Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
THE construction of a new Interchange has commenced at the intersection of Harare Drive and Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Expressway (formerly Airport Road) in Harare as the Government continue to demonstrate an ongoing commitment to providing modern, efficient and safe transport infrastructure.
Contractors have started clearing the land to pave the way for the major works on site. Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Advocate Felix Mhona will next Monday lead a delegation on a tour of the site.
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development confirmed the developments in a statement.
“A new Interchange is coming. Land clearing is now underway for the construction of an interchange at Harare Drive and the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Expressway. Join us for a hard hat tour and see the future of our country’s roads in action,” the ministry said.
This development comes as construction of the Mabvuku Interchange is progressing well and is set to be completed by September this year, with the project moving steadily forward as the Government continues to commit to modernising and expanding the national road network.
This project, situated along the busy Harare – Mutare Highway, is designed to ease congestion and improve safety on one of Zimbabwe’s key road corridors.
In an interview recently, the deputy director of construction in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Engineer Virginia Mawere, said the overpass will separate traffic flows while improving safety and efficiency.
“The scope of work entails an overpass which is going to raise the Harare – Mutare Road, with traffic lights regulating vehicles coming in and out of Mabvuku underneath. What we want to achieve is improved safety, reduced travel times and enhanced trade along this regional corridor,” she said.
She noted that the interchange forms part of a wider intervention targeting congestion hotspots across the capital.
“We are implementing the Greater Harare Interchanges Project to address capacity challenges at key nodes. Beyond Mabvuku, we are constructing the Delport Trumpet interchange and upgrading 19 kilometres of Delport Road linking to Airport Road and Seke Road. At Seke Road, another interchange will further improve traffic flow,” Engineer Mawere said.
Additional works include the Masasa interchange, where diversion routes are nearing completion ahead of full construction works.
The Mabvuku interchange is one of several ongoing infrastructure projects, including the Trabablas Interchange and the Harare –Kanyemba Highway, aimed at modernising Zimbabwe’s road network and supporting economic growth.
Early last month, President Mnangagwa said the Second Republic was committed to ensuring the rapid transformation of the country’s national infrastructure as Zimbabwe journeys towards upper-middle-class economic status.
Last year, President Mnangagwa opened the head-turning Trabablas Traffic Interchange, which now seamlessly links Simon Mazorodze, High Glen and Chitungwiza Roads.
It is part of the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway modernisation, with less than 30 km remaining out of the massive 585 km highway.
Both projects are part of a broader national strategy under Vision 2030 aimed at alleviating congestion, lowering road fatalities and bringing transport systems up to modern standards.
A temporary diversion at the Msasa Interchange has been implemented to ease traffic during accelerated works on the main interchange.
Four further interchanges are planned to continue decongesting roads and modernising infrastructure.
The interchanges will be at the Harare Drive-Mutare Road, Harare Drive-Liberation Legacy Way, Nemakonde Way-Harare Drive, Sam Nujoma-Harare Drive, Westgate Traffic Circle, Kuwadzana Traffic Circle and Churchill/Liberation Legacy Way.
