Online Reporter
Robin Muchetu, [email protected]
THE Government, through the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, has availed funding to accelerate the rehabilitation of the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road, with contractors now expected to return to site and speed up work on one of the country’s most important transport corridors.
The development was revealed yesterday by the Special Advisor to the President responsible for Monitoring the Implementation of Government Programmes and Projects, Dr Jorum Gumbo, on the sidelines of a tour of development projects in Matabeleland North Province.
While he did not disclose the exact amount released, Dr Gumbo said significant resources had been made available to allow construction works to gather momentum after concerns over delays on the project.
“There is urgent need for the disbursement of funds for the reconstruction of the Bulawayo Victims Falls Road, it’s in bad state. Only 59km of the road have been resurfaced, around 380-390 km are still to be done.
“However, I am pleased to say that for our eight contractors (working) on the road, the Minister of Transport has promised me that he has already disbursed some funds to all the eight contracted companies in order for them to speed up the reconstruction of this important road,” said Dr Gumbo.
The Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road is one of Zimbabwe’s strategic highways, linking the country’s tourism hub with major commercial centres while also serving as a key regional route connecting Zimbabwe to neighbouring countries in the Sadc region.
Dr Gumbo said the road was not only critical to Matabeleland North Province but to the national economy and regional trade.
“We are going to be having international sports being held in Victoria Falls in 2027. So, there is a need for the Ministry of Finance to release funds so that the road is completed in time,” said Dr Gumbo.
He said the Government recognised the strategic importance of the highway, particularly given its role in supporting tourism and facilitating access to major national projects.
He emphasised that the Government recognises that this corridor is critical, not only for the tourism capital of Victoria Falls but as a logistical lifeline for the Gwayi-Shangani Dam project.
“The Presidium is directly monitoring this corridor, and we are actively unlocking funding bottlenecks to accelerate the completion of this vital trade route,” he said.
During his visit to Matabeleland North, Dr Gumbo also toured several development projects in Lupane District, where he expressed satisfaction with the progress made while stressing the need for urgent completion of outstanding works.
Among the projects inspected was the Lupane State University Technovation Centre Building Project, which he described as a strategic investment aimed at driving innovation, research and industrial development.
Dr Gumbo said the facility would play a key role in connecting academia, industry and local communities while positioning the province to participate in the global knowledge economy.
He said under the stewardship of President Mnangagwa Zimbabwe is witnessing an unprecedented national renaissance. “We gather here not merely to audit brick and mortar, but to bear witness to the irreversible march of our Second Republic toward Vision 2030. Our guiding philosophy remains an unshakeable, sovereign truth: ‘Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo / Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo/a nation is built, defended, and sustained by its own people’.
“We’re here to evaluate the concrete expressions of the National Development Strategy 1 and 2 (NDS1 & NDS2), which are the pillars upon which we are constructing a modern, highly industrialised, resilient, and inclusive sovereign state. Our mission is unambiguous: to ensure that no place and no person is left behind,” he said.
Dr Gumbo also toured the Welshman Mabhena Composite Office Complex and commended progress made under the devolution programme. He said the facility had become a practical demonstration of Government efforts to decentralise services and bring decision-making structures closer to communities.
“The completion of Phase One of the Welshman Mabhena Composite Office Complex in 2024 stands as a monumental triumph of our devolution agenda. By successfully decentralising governance, 15 ministries have already occupied these four state-of-the-art office blocks. We have effectively dismantled the legacy of bureaucratic centralisation, bringing authority and public services directly to the doorsteps of our people,” he said.
While praising progress made on the project, Dr Gumbo said outstanding works must be completed within the required timelines.
“Landscaping and the completion of the main gatehouse and perimeter fencing must be completed. I am fully seized with the outstanding contractor and consultancy arrears, as well as the transitory accommodation bottlenecks that have slowed the relocation of provincial personnel from Bulawayo. Let me be absolutely clear, these are not roadblocks; they are merely stepping stones. Treasury is actively addressing these challenges, he confirmed,” he said.
He added that the complex would serve as more than just office space, describing it as a symbol of efficient, citizen-centred service delivery and balanced regional development.
Dr Gumbo also visited the Bubi-Lupane Irrigation Scheme, where he reaffirmed Government’s commitment to strengthening food security and rural industrialisation. He said agriculture remained central to Zimbabwe’s economic development and national sovereignty.
“A nation that cannot feed itself cannot defend its sovereignty. The Bubi-Lupane Irrigation Scheme, spanning 540 hectares, is a vital instrument in our crusade for rural development, food security, and community empowerment.
“Under normal conditions, this scheme sustains over 300 families and generates upward of US$500 000 annually.
However, the severe climatic shocks of the 2025/2026 season have tested our resolve. The drop in maize and wheat yields to 11 tonnes is a stark reminder of the realities of climate change. We don’t yield to challenges; we overcome them,” said Dr Gumbo.
In response to challenges affecting winter wheat production at the scheme, Dr Gumbo directed that immediate financial support amounting to US$11 000 be released to safeguard the crop.
“Furthermore, we are restructuring our long-term mechanisation strategy to equip this scheme with modern tractors and irrigation technology. We will restore, protect, and scale up productivity at Bubi-Lupane to ensure our communities remain secure, prosperous and resilient,” he said.
Dr Gumbo also called for the speedy completion of Lupane Provincial Hospital, saying the facility remains critical to improving access to health services in Matabeleland North Province.
His tour formed part of ongoing Government efforts to monitor the implementation of key infrastructure, agriculture, education and public service projects aimed at advancing the country’s Vision 2030 development agenda.
