Online Reporter
The Herald, 14 August 1984
THE Matabeleland North Provincial Road Department is working flat out along the Kamativi-Binga road to make the hitherto neglected Binga area more accessible.
The acting deputy provincial engineer, Mr Spackman, says: “project is long overdue because Binga is the only district service centre without a surfaced road going to it.
“To rectify this anomaly, we started surfacing the road last year, and have done about 20km between the Deka river mouth and Mlibizi turn-off.
Mr Spackman says the section was the worst part of the road. Development of road started after a call by the Prime Minister Cde Mugabe, to the then Ministry of Roads and Road Traffic, to construct and improve roads in the Binga area so that the district could take part in the country’s economic, social and political planning and progress.
The Matabeleland North provincial engineer, Mr Carl Hendrik Eriksson, says his, department considers surfacing of the road as the most important part of the area’s road development programme.
“The road will make Binga more accessible, if the Sengwe coalfield project proves feasible, the road will serve it as well,” he said.
Outlining the province’s road development programme for the last financial year, Mr Eriksson says the department spent $4 700 000 on several projects most of which are still in progress.
“We improve, maintain and develop primary roads which link major urban areas, secondary roads which serve district Lupane, Binga an Tsholotsho and tertiary sector roads which serve rural centres, clinics and rural business centres.”
He says district and rural councils look after some roads. “We cannot say when work on the Kamativi Binga road will reach Binga as the rate of progress depends solely on the availability of funds,” he says.
Lessons for today
- In 1984, the focus was simply on making Binga accessible through a surfaced road. Today, development has expanded to include border infrastructure, road rehabilitation, mining-linked development, trade facilitation, tourism promotion, Regional integration with Zambia.
- The article highlights the importance of infrastructure development in reducing regional inequalities and promoting economic growth. A major development this month was the commissioning of the Kasambabezi Border Post in Binga on 24 July 2026. The new facility is expected to improve trade, tourism, connectivity with Zambia, and create economic opportunities for local communities.
- Vice President Dr Kembo Mohadi commissioned the completed Border Post in Matabeleland North Province ushering in a new era for the previously marginalised district as the second republic continues to walk the talk in accelerating inclusive development that leaves no one and no place behind.
- Road rehabilitation around the Binga corridor continues. The Cross Dete-Kamativi route and sections linking Binga have been undergoing rehabilitation through partnerships between government and mining companies to improve transport, mining logistics, tourism, and access to essential services.
- The Government has identified the Karoi-Binga-Cross Dete Road for rehabilitation, including potential public-private partnership arrangements to improve one of the shortest routes between Harare and Victoria Falls.
- This demonstrates that infrastructure is the foundation of development. A road project that began as an effort to connect a neglected district has evolved into broader investments in transport, trade, mining, and regional connectivity. The recent developments suggest that Binga is becoming increasingly integrated into Zimbabwe’s economy after decades of relative isolation.
