Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba-Senior Reporter
Construction of the Manyame River Bridge along the Harare–Masvingo Highway is nearing completion, marking significant progress on the flagship project.
The Manyame River Bridge is a critical component of the Harare–Beitbridge Road rehabilitation programme and is expected to significantly ease traffic congestion along one of Zimbabwe’s busiest commercial corridors once fully commissioned.
The Government is also reporting steady progress on other major road projects across the country.
In Masvingo, work on the Mucheke River Bridge is also in its final stages.
The bridge forms part of the Masvingo urban bypass and is set to improve traffic flow in the city while strengthening regional connectivity and supporting local economic development.
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development confirmed the developments, saying the bridge projects are part of a broader national drive to modernise transport infrastructure and improve efficiency along key trade routes.
Progress is also being recorded on major highways.
Along the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Road, rehabilitation and widening works are continuing, with 25,3 km already completed and opened to traffic.
Construction is ongoing on the remaining 415,1 km, under the management of eight contractors, including Bitumen World, Fossil Contracting and Masimba Construction.
On the Bulawayo–Nkayi Road, surfacing works are underway, with 12km of the new surface completed and opened to traffic.
In Manicaland, significant progress has been made on the 31,2km Christmas Pass By-Pass, a key infrastructure project aimed at decongesting the Mutare urban area.
Contractor Leengate Private Limited is implementing the US$99 million project and has completed 14,3km of land clearance, as well as major works on five access ramps.
Engineers on site report that the project is now over 20 percent complete.
Meanwhile, a 7,3km stretch of the Harare–Masvingo–Beitbridge Road near Ngundu in Mwenezi District was recently opened to traffic as works continue on the dualisation of a 16-kilometre section along the Ngundu Escarpment.
The Ngundu section forms part of the wider rehabilitation and upgrading of the Harare–Beitbridge Highway, a critical north–south trade route linking Zimbabwe to the region.
The project involves the construction of a four-lane dual carriageway, with two lanes in each direction, aimed at improving safety, reducing travel time and facilitating the smooth movement of passengers and freight.
Overall, contractors have completed approximately 540 kilometres of the Harare–Beitbridge Highway, which have been opened to traffic, leaving only 43 kilometres to complete the entire project.
The rehabilitation of the Harare–Beitbridge Highway, alongside the modernisation of the Beitbridge Border Post to eliminate congestion and delays, remains among the signature infrastructure projects of President Mnangagwa’s administration.
Five local companies — Tensor Systems, Masimba Holdings, Fossil Contracting, Exodus & Company and Bitumen World — were contracted to implement the works.
The project scope includes dualisation, upgrading and tolling, with toll revenues funding rehabilitation and ongoing maintenance.
According to the ministry, Bitumen World has completed 128,8km, Fossil Contracting 122,6km, Masimba Holdings 100km, Exodus & Company 90,6 km, and Tensor Systems 90km, while a 7,2km trial section has also been completed, bringing the total to 539,2km opened to traffic.
