Zimbabwe rolls out multi-billion-dollar overhaul of major highways

Zimbabwe will next year initiate a sweeping US$3 billion road rehabilitation and upgrade programme targeting four major national highways, in what government officials describe as one of the most ambitious infrastructure drives since independence. The project, outlined under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), is expected to modernise the country's transport network, streamline domestic travel and facilitate smoother regional trade flows.

The works will run between 2026 and 2030, largely funded through public-private partnerships (PPPs). Authorities say the first phase will focus on two strategic commercial corridors  -  the Harare–Chirundu Highway and the Beitbridge–Bulawayo–Victoria Falls route  -  both of which handle high volumes of freight traffic and regional transit.

According to NDS2, the Harare–Chirundu Highway will undergo a full overhaul at an estimated cost of US$900 million, covering resurfacing, widening, and the installation of new toll plazas and weighbridges. The corridor serves as Zimbabwe's gateway to Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and northern SADC, making it one of the busiest cargo routes in the country. Government expects that the improvements will ease congestion, strengthen transport safety and improve the efficiency of goods movement to northern markets.

The second flagship project involves the rehabilitation of the Beitbridge–Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Highway. The upgrade, projected at US$1.2 billion and scheduled for implementation between 2026 and 2030, will also run under a PPP arrangement. The route is critical to national tourism and trade, connecting South Africa to Victoria Falls and mining centres in the north-west. Officials say the reconstruction will boost tourism numbers, cut freight delays and reinforce Zimbabwe's relevance as a regional transport hub.

In addition to the two main corridors, government has announced timelines for three further inter-city routes. The Harare–Nyamapanda Highway will be upgraded for US$262 million, with completion expected in 2029 alongside the modernisation of the Nyamapanda Border Post. The Gweru–Zvishavane–Rutenga–Boli–Sango Road, which will enhance access to the Lowveld and Mozambique-bound traffic, will be implemented at a cost of US$450 million and finalised by 2030. A separate US$384 million upgrade of the Harare–Kanyemba Highway is scheduled for completion by 2029, including refurbishment of the border post to strengthen northern connectivity to Zambia and Tanzania.

Several major works are already underway across the country as part of the same infrastructure push. These include the widening of the Harare–Chegutu section of the Harare–Bulawayo Road at a cost of US$105 million, and upgrades to the Harare–Marondera stretch of the Harare–Mutare Highway valued at US$95 million. Construction has commenced on the long-awaited 240km Kwekwe–Lupane Highway, which is expected to shorten travel to Victoria Falls by nearly 200 kilometres. Upgrades to the Bulawayo–Nkayi Road are progressing, while the 31.2km Christmas Pass By-Pass in Mutare is being developed to divert heavy haulage trucks away from the congested city centre. The Mabvuku Interchange on the eastern side of Harare is also advancing and scheduled for completion in 2026.

Officials say the cumulative works represent a transformative investment in the country's road system and could dramatically reshape trade patterns, logistics efficiency and economic growth over the next decade. The government views the upgrades as essential to positioning Zimbabwe as a competitive transport corridor linking southern, central and east African markets.