Harare, (New Ziana) -President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday officially commissioned the landmark Trabablas Interchange, a major milestone in the country’s ambitious infrastructure development agenda.
The state-of-the-art interchange, connecting Simon Mazorodze, High Glen, and Chitungwiza roads, is now one of the largest and most complex transport projects completed in the country in recent decades.
Addressing government officials, stakeholders, engineers, and local residents, President Mnangagwa hailed the project as clear evidence of the commitment of the Second Republic to transforming the country infrastructure.
“The growth of the economy and increased performance of all sectors exerts pressure on our roads. This has resulted in traffic congestion, accidents, frustrating delays and the loss of production and family time,” he said.
“In view of this, my Government developed a comprehensive, long term strategy to transform our transport system to make it more efficient, sustainable and people-centred.”
President Mnangagwa said in addition to being a transport project, the Trabablas Interchange (which was named after his liberation war nom de guerre) is a key enabler in Zimbabwe’s broader economic and social transformation.
With 15 major bridge structures, including some towering over 80 metres, the interchange is expected to ease congestion, improve safety, and enhance travel efficiency along one of Harare’s busiest transport corridors.
President Mnanggwa commended the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development, TEFOMA Construction, engineers, planners, artisans, and local workers for their dedication and expertise.
“Over 2 000 workers, including youth and women, were directly employed on this project. Most materials were sourced locally, empowering our industries and showing the depth of talent in our country,” he said.
The commissioning is part of Zimbabwe’s long-term development blueprint, Vision 2030, which aims to transform the country into an upper-middle-income economy.
With rapid urbanisation and a growing population, President Mnangagwa emphasised that sustainable and efficient infrastructure is essential for economic growth, industrialisation, and improving citizens’ quality of life.
“This landmark Interchange connects three major roads, Simon Mazorodze, High Glen and Chitungwiza. The project involved the construction of 15 major bridge structures, some as high as 80 metres from ground, with 13 of them directly on the Interchange and 2 on Amalinda and Harare Drive.
President Mnangagwa said the country’s development priorities are aligned with the needs of our people, adding that transport infrastructure was rightly identified as a key pillar in the transformation.
He said the interchange is the first in a series of similar projects with plans already underway to construct additional ones nterchanges at other major intersections including Simon Mazorodze and Willowvale Roads, Simon Mazorodze and Remembrance Drive, and across multiple key junctions around Harare.
Strategically positioned along the North-South Corridor, the Trabablas Interchange also enhances Zimbabwe’s regional connectivity, he said.
President Mnangagwa also noted the importance of the project for the movement of goods and people between southern African countries saying Zimbabwe’s geographical location makes it a vital link.
Through such projects, President Mnangagwa said the country is realising the potential of road corridors such as Beira, Limpopo, and the North-South.
Upgrades to other critical routes including the Harare-Beitbridge Highway, Harare-Chirundu Road, and Beitbridge-Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road are also in progress, supported by initiatives to streamline customs and border processes, he said.
As part of Zimbabwe’s push toward modernisation, President Mnangagwa said the implementation of smart traffic management systems, intelligent technologies will optimise traffic flow, reduce congestion, and improve road safety across urban centres.
“Smart infrastructure is the future. We must pair our physical assets with digital systems to fully unlock the benefits,” he said.
President Mnangagwa called for responsible use and protection of the new infrastructure and urged citizens to adhere to traffic regulations, avoid vandalism, and take pride in public assets.
Reiterating the Government’s Whole of Society Approach, he urged Ministries, agencies, businesses, and communities to continue collaborating for national development.
“Together, we can achieve more high-impact results. This interchange stands as a towering example of what is possible when we are united, focused, innovative, and hardworking,” said President Mnangagwa
New Ziana
