Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Mutare Bureau
WORK on the upgrading of the Headlands-Mayo and Chipinge-Mt Selinda roads in Manicaland is progressing, with contractors now on site as Government continues implementing its road rehabilitation and modernisation programme.
The projects form part of the Second Republic’s infrastructure development drive, which has seen major investments in road construction and rehabilitation across the country since 2018.
Once completed, the upgraded roads are expected to improve connectivity, facilitate the movement of people and goods, and enhance access to key social services and markets in Makoni and Chipinge districts.
The Chipinge-Mt Selinda Road is a strategic route linking communities to Mt Selinda Border Post, health institutions and several schools.
Manicaland Provincial Roads Engineer in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Engineer Raphael Sigauke, said significant progress had been made on both projects.
“The contractor on Headlands-Chiendambuya-Mayo Road is busy with work on the ground. To date, 4km have been surfaced. The contractor is currently priming 3km,” said Eng Sigauke.
“This year, the target is to surface 10km by the end of September 2026. The other remaining 10 kilometres will be added in due course.
“On Chipinge-Mt Selinda Road, the contractor is now priming for surfacing 4,2km. The remaining 6km will be surfaced in due course.”
Eng Sigauke said Government had also completed surfacing works on Makoni Road, which links Osborne Dam from Nyanga Road at Nyabadza Business Centre.
Works are also underway on several other strategic roads in the province, including Birchnough Bridge-Murambinda Road, Nyanga-Ruwangwe Road and Odzi-Marange Road, while roads in the Binya area are also earmarked for upgrading to surfaced standards.
Eng Sigauke said the Nyanga-Ruwangwe project had reached completion on a 5km stretch upgraded to surfaced standard, with only road markings and signage remaining.
“Grading of a further 71km gravel section has been successfully carried out, improving mobility in the area,” he said.
Headlands legislator Cde Farai Mapfumo welcomed the progress being made on the Headlands-Chiendambuya-Mayo Road, describing it as a key route with significant economic potential.
“The intervention of Government on the Headlands-Chiendambuya-Mayo Road project could not have come at a better time after incessant lobbying since 2018,” he said.
“The surfacing of the road is a welcome development as we strive for rural development and transportation, where good transport systems are key catalysts.
“This will improve the ease of doing business in rural and farming communities. We did not lobby necessarily for its dire state in need of rehabilitation but also on the business aspect, considering that transport from Beira that goes through Forbes Border Post to access Nyamapanda Border Post en route to Malawi, they are going via Harare’s Enterprise Road then connecting to Mutoko Road.”
He explained that if one went via Headlands, the distance is less than 90km to access Mutoko Road, meaning that the ongoing surfacing will bring business to Headlands and boost rural transformation.
“This will result in growth points registering meaningful growth and make sleepy areas vibrant. This is through the able works of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, various ministries and other stakeholders involved.
“We need to keep the pace and momentum until we reach Mutoko Road,” said Cde Mapfumo.
