Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
THE construction of a new asphalt plant in Masvingo as part of a strategic drive to build internal capacity and reduce the high costs of outsourcing road maintenance work is progressing well and is set to be commissioned by the end of this year.
The initiative forms a cornerstone of a broader national plan to eventually deploy at least one asphalt plant in each of the country’s 10 provinces.
So far, the Government has acquired two other new asphalt plants for Harare and Bulawayo.
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development said some of the equipment has since been installed at the site and it will be completed in a few weeks.
“The Masvingo Asphalt Plant is expected to be commissioned before the end of this year, strengthening the capacity to produce asphalt for road rehabilitation and maintenance,” the ministry said.
“This means improved capacity to respond to road damage, smoother journeys and safer roads for motorists.
“Every kilometre matters, and every repaired road makes a difference. Better roads. Safer journeys. Stronger connectivity.”
In February, the Government commissioned a 120-tonne capacity Skyline Asphalt Plant that will service all 92 local authorities across Zimbabwe, ending years of reliance on expensive private contractors for road rehabilitation.
The newly commissioned plant, located just outside Harare at Skyline, represents a strategic shift in road maintenance approach, with Government now positioned to directly provide asphalt products to urban and rural councils nationwide.
The facility enables local authorities to access affordable tar for roadworks, addressing a critical challenge that has hampered infrastructure development at the municipal level for decades.
