By Positive Eye News Reporter
In the wake of the commissioning of the Sabi Star Lithium Mine, President Emmerson Mnangagwa pledged to prioritise the rehabilitation of the Murambinda-Birchenough Road, a strategic route linking key economic zones in Manicaland Province. True to his promise, construction works have commenced in earnest, with progress being recorded on both ends of the 120-kilometre stretch.
From the Birchenough side, five kilometres of road have already been surfaced, drawing praise from local villagers who have long struggled with transport woes. “We were facing transport challenges and it was expensive to go to Birchenough Bridge before the surfacing of this road,” said a local resident. “We therefore appeal to road authorities for road surfacing works to continue.”
The project has also had a socio-economic ripple effect. On the Murambinda side, dozens of locals have secured employment through the construction process, further underlining the government’s developmental thrust. “Many people in Murambinda were employed following the commencement of this project. We thank the government for rehabilitating our road and we are looking forward for this section to be completed before August,” another Buhera resident said.
Manicaland Provincial Roads Engineer Patrick Muropa confirmed steady progress on the project. “The Murambinda–Mudanda road construction is progressing well, with five kilometres of subgrade and 3.5 kilometres of Base 2 completed. Hauling of base material and crusher run is currently in progress. Contractor JRG Goddard is on schedule and the project is expected to improve accessibility and boost local economic activity,” he stated.
He further noted that on the Birchenough Bridge side, the completed five kilometres have transformed from gravel to a surfaced road, with site clearance ongoing for the next phase.
This road rehabilitation comes at a critical time as Zimbabwe intensifies efforts to bolster rural infrastructure under the Second Republic’s Vision 2030 agenda, which aims to create an upper-middle-income economy. Improved road infrastructure not only eases mobility but also enhances agricultural marketing, access to healthcare and education, and supports the movement of critical minerals such as lithium from newly commissioned mines.
Beyond Buhera, similar tarring and surfacing works are also underway in Chipinge, Chimanimani, and Nyanga, reinforcing government’s commitment to a decentralized and inclusive development model.
As construction continues, the Murambinda-Birchenough Road stands as a symbol of the Second Republic’s resolve to deliver people-centred infrastructure that transforms lives and stimulates economic development, especially in previously marginalized areas.
