Stalled Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road project gets funding

 Transport and Infrastructural Development minister Felix Mhona has admitted that the critical rehabilitation of the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road has stalled due to severe funding constraints and contractor capacity issues, but promised a "massive" remobilisation of workers starting this August.

The minister’s admission came during a heated National Assembly Q&A session on Wednesday, following a sharp rebuke from Lupane East legislator Siphathisiwe Machangu, who described the 440km highway as a scene of "complete abandonment".

Machangu challenged the government’s policy on allowing contractors to desert projects, leaving vital infrastructure in a dangerous and deteriorated state.

She painted a bleak picture of the current situation on the ground, noting that between Bulawayo and Lupane, and further through Jotsholo towards Hwange, not a single construction vehicle is in sight.

"The roads are just empty," Machangu told the House, demanding a clear timeline for when the "reconstruction" would resume.

In a frank response, Mhona conceded that the project had indeed "stalled". He attributed the delays to a combination of variables, including "delays in payment" from the treasury and some contractors who overrepresented their "capacity" to do the work.

He noted that in the past, some contractors anticipated upfront deposits before disappearing, though the government now requires a demonstration of capacity first.

The minister revealed a startling fiscal reality. His ministry was allocated the equivalent of only US$150 million for road projects across the entire country for the current year.

"You are the owners of the place, this august House," Mhona told the MPs. "You gave us US150 million and if we just apply it to that road [Bulawayo-Victoria Falls], it is inadequate."

Despite the budgetary shortfall, Mhona insisted the government is now "thinking outside the box" by pursuing public-private partnership (PPP) arrangements and loan facilities. He informed the House that a 750km stretch—originally starting from Beitbridge—was initially under a PPP, but the government had to intervene on the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls section specifically because it was in such a "sorry state."

To address the 440km stretch, the  ministry has engaged eight contractors, each assigned a 50km section.

While Machangu reported seeing no activity, the minister argued that some work might be hidden by detours "divorced from the main road."  He claimed that nine kilometres of the road were recently opened to traffic two and a half weeks ago.

In a significant commitment to Matabeleland North residents and the tourism sector, Mhona announced that a new infrastructure framework has been agreed upon between the Transport and Finance ministries to ensure contractors are paid.

"I want to say to Hon. Machangu, yes, watch the space and as we move towards August, you will see massive rehabilitation again," Mhona promised.

"Those contractors will be mobilised again to their various sections... you will see an accelerated pace going forward."

The state of the road remains a point of high anxiety for regional leaders. Hwange MP Daniel Bonda also weighed in, urging the ministry to ensure that even while working on specific sections, contractors must maintain detours that have become "no longer trafficable."

Mhona confirmed that current contracts now mandate routine maintenance of entire sections, including detours, to keep traffic flowing.

Source: Stalled Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road project gets funding (02/08/26)

Victoria Falls embarks on major road rehab

 THE City of Victoria Falls is witnessing a significant road network upgrade through a comprehensive city-wide rehabilitation programme funded by the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara).

The centre piece of this initiative is the resealing of two critical roads that include one in the industrial area and another in a low-density suburb, aimed at strengthening infrastructure in the premier tourist destination.

According to official Zinara disbursement figures, the Victoria Falls City Council had a budget allocation of ZWG6,6 million for road works in the last financial year.

By September last year, ZWG3,4 million had been utilised, representing a 52 percent utilisation rate.

In addition to financial support, Zinara budgeted 10 358 litres of fuel for the city’s road projects, of which 5 000 litres had been disbursed to support the operations.

This news crew visited the ongoing works on Wednesday afternoon and spoke to City Engineer, Bongani Dube, who outlined the scope and importance of the projects.

“We are working on our reseal project, which is Courtney Selous, in one of our low-density areas. The project involves the resealing of two roads, one in the industrial area and one in the low-density area,” he said.

“In the industrial area is Ramsey Road, which is 0,4 kilometres and Courtney Selous which is 1,4 kilometres,” said Eng Dube.

He confirmed that Masimba Holdings has been contracted by the council to undertake the resealing work.

“We have been funded by Zinara to do this project which we hope to complete on time given that the company engaged to do the work is already on the ground,” said Eng Dube.

He said the resealing of the roads was meant to extend the lifespan of the city’s roads.
“We have done the preliminary works, which is pothole patching, crack sealing and edge break repairs,” said Eng Dube.

He said through Zinara funding, council has been able to do roads maintenance which involves pothole patching, drain cleaning, vegetation control and gravelling.

Eng Dube said this was crucial in terms of ensuring that the roads were trafficable.

He said the rehabilitation of the roads was key to preserving the city’s infrastructure and ensuring smooth and safe travel for residents as well as thousands of tourists who visit the iconic destination annually.

Source: Victoria Falls embarks on major road rehab (07/01/2026)

Govt officials to lead journalists on a tour of Byo-Vic Falls Road

 CABINET ministers and senior Government officials will this week lead journalists from various media houses on a tour of the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Road rehabilitation and upgrading project.

The delegation will comprise Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona, the ministry’s permanent secretary, Engineer Joy Makumbe, Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Richard Moyo, the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development chairperson Cde Tawanda Karikoga, legislators and senior government officials will lead journalists on a tour to check on progress made so far.

The tour comes after the Government has prioritised the US$1,2 billion rehabilitation and upgrade of the Beitbridge–Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Highway — including the construction of modern toll plazas with weighbridges — as one of the flagship infrastructure projects to be rolled out between 2026 and 2030 under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS 2).

The Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Highway is a critical trade and tourism artery linking Zimbabwe with Zambia, Namibia and Botswana, is being upgraded under the Government’s ongoing national road rehabilitation and modernisation programme.

Initially, five contractors — Fossil Contracting, Masimba Construction, Syvern Investment, Bitumen Resources and Tensor Systems — were awarded contracts to rehabilitate sections of the 440-kilometre stretch.

However, the Government recently added three more contractors for Lots 6, 7 and 8, covering the final approaches to Victoria Falls, to fast-track completion.

Source: Govt officials to lead journalists on a tour of Byo-Vic Falls Road (03/12/2025)