Otillia Makomo
Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Hon. Advocate F.T. Mhona, has stepped up Government’s oversight of major road projects in Harare, conducting an on-site inspection of the Mabvuku Interchange and the Mutare Road/Harare Drive Interchange in Msasa as construction gathers momentum.
The inspection comes as Government pushes ahead with a wider programme to modernise the capital’s road infrastructure, with the eastern corridor receiving particular attention because of its importance to commuter movement, freight transportation and regional trade.
At the Mabvuku Interchange, Minister Mhona observed the ongoing installation of bridge beams, marking a significant advancement in the structural works and signalling that the project is moving into a critical phase of construction.
The Minister expressed satisfaction with the progress and quality of work at the sites, while emphasising that the projects must ultimately be measured by their impact on mobility and economic activity.
The Mabvuku project carries significance beyond Harare’s traffic challenges because of its connection to the Beira Corridor, one of Zimbabwe’s key trade routes linking the country to the Port of Beira in Mozambique.
“The Mabvuku Interchange is strategic. Once complete, it will improve the movement of goods and people, reduce travel time, and strengthen our position as a transit hub in the region,” Hon. Mhona said.
The Government’s approach is also notable for the simultaneous implementation of several projects. Minister Mhona revealed that the Mabvuku Interchange, Mutare Road/Harare Drive Interchange and Delport Road Project are being undertaken concurrently.
The coordinated rollout is intended to accelerate the rehabilitation and expansion of Harare’s transport infrastructure rather than addressing individual congestion points in isolation.
“These projects are part of a broader infrastructure drive meant to support economic growth, attract investment, and build a modern transport system that meets the needs of our people,” he said.
For Harare, the significance of the projects extends beyond shorter journeys. Efficient interchanges are expected to improve the movement of commercial traffic, reduce pressure on existing road corridors and strengthen connections between residential, industrial and commercial areas.
The Mabvuku interchange, in particular, is positioned to serve both local traffic and freight moving towards the eastern gateway, giving the project an important role in improving Zimbabwe’s connectivity to regional markets.
Government expects the completed projects to reduce travel times for commuters and haulage trucks while improving the efficiency of traffic flows along the Beira Corridor.
Minister Mhona was accompanied during the inspection by Permanent Secretary Eng. J.P. Makumbe, ministry directors, chief executive officers of parastatals under the ministry, as well as engineers and technicians from the Department of Roads.
The continued supervision of the projects underscores Government’s focus on ensuring that major infrastructure investments translate into functional transport systems capable of supporting urban mobility, trade, investment and the wider economic transformation agenda.
