Online Reporter
As we prepare to mark our 46th Independence Day, there is a palpable sense of renewal in the air — not just from the celebratory flags and national pride, but from the very ground beneath our wheels.
This year, the festivities will be hosted in Maphisa, Matabeleland South, and thanks to a decisive and accelerated infrastructure drive by the Second Republic, the roads leading to this historic event are being transformed from long-neglected arteries into modern gateways of progress.
Let us give credit where it is due. The Government, under President Mnangagwa, has intensified work on the critical Bulawayo–Matopos Road, with rehabilitation now nearing completion just in time for April 18. This is no small feat, especially given the persistent rains that would have slowed efforts.
Provincial roads engineer Mangisi Nkomo confirmed that despite operating in the wet season, 70 percent of the work is done, with a focus now on dust suppression, signage, and safety. Contractors like Zada Construction are on course to finish their stretches by April 15. That is efficiency born of purpose.
This momentum is no accident. It flows directly from the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme 2 (ERRP2), launched by President Mnangagwa in 2021 after he wisely declared the nation’s road network a national disaster. That declaration unlocked emergency funding and fast-tracked implementation. What began as a short-term response to years of neglect and extreme weather has evolved into a long-term national infrastructure revival, one that is now driving economic transformation and regional connectivity in line with Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).
Consider the scale: over 12,000 kilometres of roads rehabilitated, key urban arteries upgraded, and flood-destroyed bridges restored. The Bulawayo–Kezi–Maphisa and Gwanda–Maphisa roads are receiving similar attention. Transport Ministry Permanent Secretary Engineer Joy Makumbe recently toured these routes, underscoring that these projects are not merely cosmetic fixes for a one-day event. They are lasting legacies.
“These roads are important not only for the Independence celebrations but also for long-term socio-economic development,” she said.
She is right. Improved roads mean easier movement of goods, better access to communities, and a tangible boost for trade and tourism in a region rich with historical and cultural significance.
Critics may grumble about timelines or unfinished layers, but the reality is pragmatic. As Eng Nkomo explained, the first structural layer will safely carry traffic during the commemorations, with additional works to follow. That is sensible project management, not failure. The alternative — doing nothing — is what led to decades of decay.
President Mnangagwa has reaffirmed the Second Republic’s commitment to making Zimbabwe a regional logistics hub of choice. Hosting Independence Day in Maphisa is not just a symbolic honour for Matabeleland South; it is a catalyst for development that will serve local communities long after the speeches end and the flags are folded.
So, as we celebrate 46 years of independence, let us also celebrate a Government that is finally building the roads to match our aspirations. The Bulawayo–Matopos Road is more than asphalt and gravel. It is a promise kept: a smooth, safe, and dignified path to our national celebration, and beyond that, to a prosperous, connected Zimbabwe.
derick.khumalo