Umguza, (New Ziana) – The first portion of the rehabilitated Bulawayo-Victoria Falls highway has been re-opened to motorists, bringing relief to road users.
Government is rehabilitating the road, one of the country’s most important highways, as part of its ambitious infrastructure development programme which has seen dams, irrigation systems and roads, among other things, built or rehabilitated.
The Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Road is a flagship project under the Second Republic’s infrastructure drive, a key enabler of Vision 2030 under which the government is pushing for the country to attain an upper-middle-income economy status.
The route serves as a vital artery for regional trade, connecting southern Zimbabwe to the Kazungula Bridge and the wider SADC transport network – Zambia, Namibia, and Botswana.
For years, travellers to Victoria Falls have endured difficult and slow journeys on the highway’s pothole-riddled and narrow stretches.
The current rehabilitation work, expected to take about 10 months, aims to restore the route to world-class standards, supporting the free flow of tourism traffic and regional economic integration.
Speaking after the opening of a newly rehabilitated 5km stretch under Lot 3 in Insuza, Umguza District on Wednesday, the Provincial Road Engineer for Matabeleland North, Eng Xolani Ncube, confirmed that progress has been made by the contractors.
He said that contractors have made visible progress and are on track to complete the project within the 10-month timeline.
To speed up the process, Ncube said government has expanded the contractor pool, with three more awarded contracts recently.
“Initially, government awarded contracts to five contractors, but three have now been added. The three new contractors—Asphalt Products, Bitumen, and Enash—have been awarded Lots 6, 7, and 8, covering the final approaches to Victoria Falls.
“Three of the contractors are currently doing stabilisation work on their respective five-kilometre stretches, and in the next two weeks, we also expect them to open sections of the road to traffic,” he added.
Eng Ncube explained that the government has adopted a strategic kilometre-by-kilometre approach, saying this allows contractors to progressively open completed sections to motorists while continuing work further along the route.
“This method offers a dual benefit. Opening completed stretches also helps harden the surface before final road markings and allows the easier movement of goods and passengers, “he said.
Truck drivers who use the route have welcomed the development, saying that the road’s completion will significantly improve trade and reduce cargo transit times within the region.
The Bulawayo–Victoria Falls road rehabilitation is a key component of the Government’s Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme.
New Ziana
