Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
THE construction of the 240-kilometre Kwekwe-Nkayi-Lupane Highway, a strategic route expected to reduce travel distances, cut logistics costs and strengthen economic activities, is making significant progress.
The Lupane–Nkayi–Kwekwe road, currently under construction by Road Trackers Construction under a public-private partnership (PPPs) arrangement, is expected to reduce the distance from Harare to Victoria Falls by 170 kilometres.
Motorists will turn off from Kwekwe instead of passing through Bulawayo, cutting travel time. The project is scheduled for completion within five years.
During a recent media tour, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Engineer Joy Makumbe, emphasised the Government’s commitment to quality, sustainable infrastructure and the importance of leveraging public-private partnerships (PPPs) to accelerate national development.
The ministry also clarified concerns over discrepancies in road construction costs across Zimbabwe, with Eng Makumbe stressing that uniform distances may vary in cost depending on engineering and logistical variables.
“We have noted that some sections of the public expressed frustration and dismay over cost discrepancies amongst our roads, even within the same distances. Proximity to water sources, gradient, and soil texture significantly impact construction expenses,” she said.
Eng Makumbe explained that projects near water bodies or hilly terrain require specialised engineering, which increases costs.
Labour dynamics also play a role, particularly in border provinces where some workers demand partial or full payment in foreign currency due to cross-border transactions.
She added that Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), project scale, resource accessibility, and seasonal factors such as rainy periods further contribute to variations. Contractual obligations and project timelines may also lead to adjustments.
“Variation in project timing and contractual obligations leads to cost adjustments. Seasonal factors, like rainy periods, may delay work and increase expenses,” Eng Makumbe said.
Engineer Jaravani Kangara, the Director of Roads in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development, also outlined the advantages of using the road once it has been completed.
He also provided an example of a truck using the Harare-Victoria Falls route, saying it would save approximately 170 litres of diesel one way, nearly one full drum, because heavy trucks typically travel at two kilometres per litre.
On toll fees, he said, the Bulawayo route has four toll plazas, but the new Kwekwe-Nkayi-Lupane route will have only two.
Meanwhile, the contractors who are working on the rehabilitation of the strategic Bulawayo-Victoria Falls highway have assured that they are set to complete the project by the end of next year.
The Government has prioritised the US$1,2 billion rehabilitation and upgrade of the Beitbridge–Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Highway — including the construction of modern toll plazas with weighbridges — as one of the flagship infrastructure projects to be rolled out between 2026 and 2030 under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS 2).
The Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Highway is a critical trade and tourism artery linking Zimbabwe with Zambia, Namibia and Botswana, and is being upgraded under the Government’s ongoing national road rehabilitation and modernisation programme.
Initially, five contractors — Fossil Contracting, Masimba Construction, Syvern Investment, Bitumen Resources and Tensor Systems — were awarded contracts to rehabilitate sections of the 440-kilometre stretch.
However, the Government recently added three more contractors for Lots 6, 7 and 8, covering the final approaches to Victoria Falls, to fast-track completion.
The upgraded road, a critical tourism and trade artery, is designed to be a sustainable corridor of development, directly addressing water scarcity, local employment, environmental care, and long-term upkeep for the benefit of both Matabeleland North and the nation.
In his presentation, Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Richard Moyo emphasised the government’s determination to ensure that the highway is restored to safe, durable standards.
He said the route was a strategic national asset used by tourists, miners, transporters and local communities.
Minister Moyo said the Government continues to engage a range of stakeholders, including tourism operators, miners and investors to support complementary infrastructure work.
