Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba in KARIBA
ONE of the country’s busiest trade corridors is set for a major transformation after funding was secured for the rehabilitation and upgrading of the Harare–Chirundu Highway and the modernisation of the Chirundu Border Post, with construction expected to begin within weeks.
The US$900 million project, which will be implemented under a public-private partnership (PPP), is expected to be completed within 18 months and will see the full rehabilitation of the strategic highway corridor, easing congestion, improving road safety and strengthening Zimbabwe’s position as a regional trade gateway.
The route is a critical link between Zimbabwe and Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the wider SADC northbound corridor, carrying thousands of tonnes of regional cargo every day.
At the moment, some sections are badly damaged, affecting the free flow of traffic and also affecting tourism, especially in Kariba.
Speaking after touring sections of the highway, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona said the project reflects the Second Republic’s commitment to modernising key transport infrastructure in line with Vision 2030.
“We have got close to 90 000 kilometres of road network in the country and you know that for a number of years, some of our roads were not rehabilitated,” he said.
“But I am glad that since the advent of the Second Republic, we took a deliberate plan to say ‘let’s rehabilitate our roads and this is precisely what we have been doing for the past five years.
“It therefore calls for patience from the citizenry. We need to be in every corner, but we know that there are issues of resources where we tap into the fiscus and the idea behind involving the private sector is to make sure that we then focus on the major trunk roads, and some of these roads where people might not see commercial value; that’s where we come in as Government.”
Minister Mhona said the Government has therefore roped in the private sector on the Harare-Chirundu Highway, with the funding model expected to be concluded in the next eight weeks, allowing emergency works to begin on damaged sections of the road while preparations for the full-scale rehabilitation continue.
“You have seen that from Karoi coming this side, some sections are in a sorry state. So, we will attend to those sections with speed and again, with the private sector, we are working on the Chirundu Border Post.
“I am happy that we now have a solution, as we have secured the funding for the entire road network; that is from Harare to Chirundu.
“You will see that, once we begin, we are looking at a timeframe of 18 months to complete the project, as we assured the people of Zimbabwe, and this will run concurrently with the border rehabilitation programme at Chirundu,” he said.
The project follows the completion earlier this year of the rehabilitation and widening of the notorious 7,2-kilometre Makuti section, commonly known as “Wafa Wafa”, one of the most challenging stretches along the highway.
The upgraded section now features climbing lanes, improved curves, drainage facilities and other safety enhancements designed to improve traffic flow and reduce accidents, particularly involving heavy vehicles.
The works were carried out by Japanese firm Dai Nippon Construction, which was awarded the contract in 2024.
The broader Harare–Chirundu Highway rehabilitation project resumed in August 2024, with Tensor Systems, Bitumen World, Masimba, Fossil and Exodus and Company each allocated sections of the road for upgrading, widening and partial dualisation.
The corridor forms part of a wider infrastructure modernisation drive under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which prioritises strategic road projects through public-private partnerships.
Authorities expect the rehabilitation programme to reduce travel times, improve safety, facilitate the movement of goods and enhance Zimbabwe’s competitiveness as a regional logistics and trade hub.
The concurrent modernisation of the Chirundu Border Post is also expected to improve efficiency at one of Southern Africa’s busiest ports of entry, further strengthening trade and economic integration across the region.
