Bulawayo's key road link reopens

The first phase of the Cecil Avenue rehabilitation project in Bulawayo has officially opened to traffic, marking a key milestone in efforts to redirect heavy vehicles away from the city's Central Business District (CBD). The government-funded upgrade aims to restore the avenue as a vital transport link connecting the Bulawayo-Harare Road, Coghlan Avenue, and the Bulawayo-Gwanda Road.

Over recent years, Cecil Avenue had deteriorated significantly, reducing its effectiveness as a bypass for long-haul vehicles travelling to major corridors such as Victoria Falls, Plumtree, Hope Fountain, and Beitbridge. Funding for the works was provided by the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara), reflecting the government's commitment to modernising national road infrastructure.

The newly completed 2km section forms part of a 6,5km stretch currently under rehabilitation by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development. Bulawayo Provincial Roads Engineer Tatenda Nyikayaramba said the remaining 4,5km will be completed by October 2026.

"This completed section runs from the Harare Road turn-off up to Coghlan Avenue, with rehabilitation works set to extend to Hillside Teachers' College. The entire 6,5km stretch is being upgraded by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, with funding from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Investment, complemented by Zinara resources," he said.

Engineer Nyikayaramba added that, weather permitting, the project remains on schedule, with full completion expected by October 2026.

Permanent Secretary for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Paul Nyoni, said the reopening of Cecil Avenue underscores the government's commitment to assisting local authorities in modernising critical infrastructure in line with Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).

"The completion of Phase One of the Cecil Avenue upgrade is a significant milestone in the infrastructure rehabilitation programme that the Second Republic has been implementing nationwide since 2021. Cecil Avenue plays a strategic role in enabling traffic from Plumtree Road, Matopos Road and Gwanda Road to connect to Harare without congesting the city centre, thereby improving traffic flow and efficiency," Mr Nyoni said.

Phase Two of the project, which will extend to Hillside Teachers' College, represents a total investment exceeding US$15 million. Mr Nyoni called on the Bulawayo City Council to maintain the rehabilitated infrastructure to ensure resources can be redirected to other priority projects across the province.

Under NDS2, transport infrastructure development has been prioritised to enhance connectivity, reliability, and efficiency across road, rail, and air networks. Flagship projects include the US$1,2 billion Beitbridge-Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Highway upgrade, which will feature modern toll plazas with weighbridges, and the 240km Kwekwe–Lupane Highway, expected to reduce the Harare–Victoria Falls travel route by about 200km.

Additionally, the 159km Bulawayo–Nkayi Road project is set to transform mobility, commerce, and service delivery across Matabeleland North and the Midlands. Despite constrained access to external financing, the Second Republic continues to channel significant resources into road rehabilitation as a catalyst for economic transformation, investment attraction, and inclusive growth.