Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
CONSTRUCTION of the Mabvuku Traffic Interchange is now underway, with traffic diverted to detour routes from today to allow the start of civil works on the key infrastructure project at the busiest intersection within the capital city along the Harare–Mutare Highway.
Government continues on the path of revamping and modernising key infrastructure projects across the country.
The interchange, which has already seen the commencement of initial work such as bush clearing and the creation of detour roads, is expected to significantly ease congestion on one of the country’s most important stretches of road.
Despite huge populations, countries such as China control traffic through interchanges hence Zim is set to benefit from this infrastructure.
The Harare–Mutare Highway not only links the capital to the eastern border town of Mutare and Mozambique, but also services heavy commuter and commercial traffic from Mabvuku, Tafara and surrounding suburbs, plus some Ruwa traffic into the city centre. At peak hours, this section of the road has long been notorious for bottlenecks and accidents.
Yesterday, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona, his Permanent Secretary Joy Makumbe, and Permanent Secretary for Harare Metropolitan Provincial Affairs and Devolution Mr Cosmas Chiringa, who was representing Minister of State Harare Metropolitan Provincial Affairs and Devolution Senator Charles Tawengwa, toured the site of the interchange.
They were accompanied by legislators, who included Cde David Butau representing the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport, and Infrastructural Development Chairperson Cde Tawanda Karikoga and senior Government officials.
Minister Mhona said the Mabvuku Interchange represented Phase One of a wider project to construct interchanges around Harare.
“This is not just an isolated project that we are looking at, we have four interchanges being done by the same contractor and we have just started here, which is Phase One. Other interchanges are along Harare Drive and also the intersection of Churchill Avenue and Liberation Legacy Way on the way to Borrowdale,” he said.
Minister Mhona said the Mabvuku Interchange would significantly decongest traffic. “This is one of our great projects in terms of managing and decongesting traffic and as you know, coming from the east was quite problematic in the sense that you want to go to Chitungwiza you have to go through the city and connect to Seke Road but now this is going to separate traffic where even if you want to go to Mutoko, if you want to go to Chitungwiza, you will then be separated from this platform.
“So it is very important in terms of decongestion but above all for saving lives. We have been losing lives on this particular junction but with the advent of this project you will see that we will preserve the sanctity of human lives by making sure that our motorists will not be crossing each other in terms of the way they travel. And not only that, we are going to be connecting again to the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, so as to make sure that those who want to go to the airport will no longer need to go straight into the greater city,” he said.
Minister Mhona said the Mabvuku Interchange was set to be completed and commissioned by July next year.
“I can say to the people of Zimbabwe, Yes, when we started the Trabablas Interchange, we were hearing dates shifting because of various reasons, where we had to relocate people, we had to compensate people but on this particular project, you see there are no dwellings within the intersection.
“So in terms of speed, we are going to move with speed and by July 2026, we will be done. And you will see the work ethic of the Second Republic under the wise leadership of His Excellency Cde Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa that no one is going to sleep on this particular project, 24/7. So come July 2026, His Excellency will be commissioning this project,” he said.
In his speech, Cde David Butau also said the construction of the interchange was a huge milestone.
“Where you have infrastructure, you have production and where you have production you have strong financial fundamentals and this where you (Minister Mhona) are going with your team. And I want to reassure you on behalf of the Portfolio Committee on Transport that we are fully behind you and we have no intentions of backing down.
“Where there are expenditure overruns, we are there to ensure that we condone and ensure that you don’t have any turbulences on this magnificent project, which is being spearheaded by His Excellency Dr ED Mnangagwa, who is the policy chief of the country,” he said.
Zimbabwe Building Contractors Association chief executive officer Ms Joyline Zindaga also applauded Government for continuing to have confidence in local contractors, who have constructed many of the roads in the country as well as undertaking major projects.
Meanwhile, motorists and transport operators have since applauded the Government saying construction of the interchange will go a long way in decongesting the road as well as curbing road traffic accidents.
A motorist Mr Langton Moyo said: “Besides delaying traffic, this area had become a black spot where several people died while others were seriously injured in road traffic accidents. It is my hope that when it is completed, all these things will be a thing of the past.”
Another motorist, Mrs Tertia Dube said it was her hope that the project will be finished on time.
Construction of the Mabvuku Interchange comes just a few months after President Mnangagwa commissioned the landmark Trabablas Traffic Interchange, which now seamlessly connects Simon Mazorodze, High Glen and Chitungwiza Roads.
That project included 15 major bridge structures, some rising as high as 18 metres, and has been hailed as a feat of local engineering.
The new Mabvuku structure is part of a broader Government programme to modernise road networks, reduce congestion and enhance road safety as traffic volumes continue to grow.
The Mabvuku project is one of several interchanges earmarked nationwide as Government intensifies efforts to modernise transport infrastructure.
Other interchanges are planned at Harare Drive–Mutare Road, Harare Drive–Liberation Legacy Way, Nemakonde Way–Harare Drive, Sam Nujoma Street Extension–Harare Drive, the Westgate Traffic Circle, Kuwadzana Traffic Circle, and Churchill Avenue–Liberation Legacy Way.
President Mnangagwa has said the construction of such infrastructure is central to easing congestion, reducing road accidents and driving Zimbabwe’s long-term economic growth through modern, efficient transport networks.
