Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
A JOURNEY that once tested the patience of motorists, farmers and transport operators is now an exciting one for thousands of Insiza District villagers who depend on the upgraded road for access to schools, clinics, markets and other essential services.
For years, travelling along the Malole-Dickson Road and Silalatshani-Sanale Road was a frustrating and often costly ordeal. Deep potholes, eroded sections and poor drainage turned what should have been a short trip into a long and exhausting struggle, particularly during the rainy season.
Today, that has changed.
The rehabilitation of the combined 22-kilometre stretch has cut travelling times dramatically, creating a safer and more reliable route for communities in Malole, Nhlangano, Zvikombe, Mazeya and surrounding areas.
Among those celebrating the transformation is motorist Brian Shumba, who remembers when using the road felt like a test of endurance.
“It had become a nightmare to use this road. It was taking us about two hours just to travel 22 kilometres because the road was severely damaged. The road had pits and using it during the rainy season was even worse. We are now taking just 30 minutes to cover this 22 km stretch. Our vehicles were constantly breaking down because of the damaged road,” said Shumba.
The project was carried out through a partnership involving the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA), Insiza Rural District Council, FS Mining Company and Tofee Mining Company.
Funded by FS Mining Company at a cost of US$2,3 million as part of its corporate social responsibility programme, the project involved the regravelling of 11 kilometres of the Malole-Dickson Road and another 11 kilometres of the Silalatshani-Sanale Road.
The impact is already being felt beyond motorists.
Local resident Arupeli Ndlovu said poor road conditions had not only made travelling difficult but had also increased transport costs, with some operators charging high fares while others avoided the route altogether.
For smallholder farmers, moving produce to markets had become a challenge. The upgraded road is expected to make it easier for villagers to transport crops from their irrigation schemes to Skuta Business Centre and other markets.
What may appear to be a simple road improvement has therefore become a catalyst for economic and social change in the district.
Speaking during the commissioning of the rehabilitated road on Thursday, Matabeleland South Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Cde Albert Nguluvhe said the project highlighted the benefits of cooperation between Government, local authorities, communities and the private sector.
“The Second Republic’s commitment to rehabilitation of feeder roads in rural communities to improve access to services is gaining traction through public-private partnerships,” he said.
Minister Nguluvhe said the road will improve access to critical services while opening up new economic opportunities for local communities.
“Today marks a significant milestone for the communities of Malole, Nhlangano, Zvikombe, Mazeya and surrounding areas, who stand to benefit from improved connectivity, access to essential services and greater economic opportunities,” he said.
Minister Nguluvhe described roads as a critical driver of development.
“Good roads connect communities to schools, health facilities, markets, Government services and economic opportunities. They facilitate the movement of people, agricultural produce, goods and services, thereby strengthening rural economies and improving livelihoods,” he said.
Minister Nguluvhe said the project also aligns with the Government’s vision of ensuring that development reaches all corners of the country.
“This project is firmly aligned with His Excellency, Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa’s vision of leaving no one and no place behind. It demonstrates that development must reach every community,including those in our rural areas, ensuring that distance and geography do not become barriers to opportunity, mobility and access to essential services. It also contributes to our national aspiration of building a prosperous and empowered upper-middle-income society by 2030, as we implement NDS2 (2026-2030) ,” he said.
FS Mining Company director Dr Precious Mabuza said the company decided to intervene after seeing how deteriorating road infrastructure was affecting communities around its area of operation.
“We saw that roads in the surrounding community where we operate were severely damaged, which was affecting provision and access to critical services. We therefore saw it prudent to partner with Government and enhance its development agenda. We are also assisting and developing nearby schools.”
Dr Mabuza said the company remained committed to supporting community development projects in the areas where it operates.
RIDA Insiza District coordinator Nkosikhona Mguni said the roads had become almost impassable yet they were an important link connecting communities in both the northern and southern parts of the district to the Mbalabala-Masvingo Highway.
“The rehabilitation of these roads was initiated by FS Mining it involved the regravelling of 22 kilometres, that is 11 kilometres along the Malole-Dickson Road and 11 kilometres along the Silalatshani-Sanali Road,” he said.
Mr Mguni said the project was made possible through the combined resources of all the partners. FS Mining supplied fuel, lubricants, labour, grader blades, tippers and an excavator while Tofee Mining provided additional tipper trucks. RIDA and Insiza Rural District Council contributed machinery and technical expertise, including motorised graders.
Chief Maduna commended FS Mining for going beyond extracting resources from the area and investing in the welfare of local communities.
For residents who spent years navigating a road riddled with potholes and washaways, the rehabilitation represents more than improved infrastructure. It means faster access to health services, easier travel for schoolchildren, lower transport costs and better opportunities for farmers and businesses.
Perhaps most importantly, it shows how a stretch of road can change the daily lives of thousands of people.
