High-impact Matebeleland projects will not be completed

Several major capital projects in Matebeleland North that Government says are nearing completion have, in reality, missed repeated deadlines, raising concerns over persistent delays, cost overruns and unfulfilled promises that continue to frustrate communities in the province.

Despite assurances by Matebeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Richard Moyo that flagship projects such as the Lake Gwayi-Shangani Dam, the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Highway rehabilitation and the Lupane Provincial Hospital will be completed this year, critics and residents point out that most of these initiatives were initially scheduled for completion years ago.

The Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Highway, one of the country's most strategic transport corridors, has been neglected for more than a decade, with timelines repeatedly revised. While Government recently opened a 5,4-kilometre stretch at Cross Jotsholo and says 38 kilometres have been completed under the first phase, motorists and transport operators argue that progress has been painfully slow given the road's economic importance.

"The problem is not announcements, it is delivery," said a Hwange-based transport operator. "This road has been under construction for years. Every year we are told it will be completed by a certain date, and every year the deadline shifts."

Tourism operators say the prolonged construction has continued to undermine access to Victoria Falls and Hwange National Park, increasing vehicle maintenance costs and discouraging self-drive tourists.

Similar concerns surround the Lake Gwayi-Shangani project, which Government describes as one of Zimbabwe's most transformative water infrastructure developments. While officials say the project is now progressing at an accelerated pace, the dam and associated pipeline have been on the national agenda for decades, with more recent completion targets under the Second Republic also repeatedly missed.

Although Government says it is disbursing about US$5 million a month and is targeting completion by August, water experts caution that outstanding works, including the full pipeline to Bulawayo and the broader National Matebeleland Zambezi Water Project, remain far from finished.

"This project has become symbolic of deferred hope for Bulawayo," said a Bulawayo-based civil engineer. "Announcements have come and gone, but the city is still facing water shortages and residents are yet to see tangible relief."

The Lupane Provincial Hospital has also been affected by delays. Initially expected to be completed several years ago, the hospital remains partially built, with Government now saying it is awaiting a final US$5 million tranche to complete the first phase. Health advocates say communities have been hearing similar explanations for years, while residents continue to travel long distances to Bulawayo for specialised care.

"For people on the ground, the hospital is still not operational, so the benefit is theoretical," said a Lupane resident. "Deadlines have been missed many times before."

While Government highlights completed projects such as the Hwange Power Station Units 7 and 8 expansion, critics note that other key initiatives, including the rehabilitation of Hwange Units 1 to 6 and the decentralisation of Government services to Lupane through the Welshman Mabhena Government Complex, have also progressed slower than initially planned.

Devolution-funded projects, Presidential borehole schemes and Village Business Units have similarly drawn mixed reviews, with some communities benefiting while others complain of uneven implementation and stalled works.

Analysts say the pattern of missed deadlines in Matebeleland North reflects broader national challenges, including funding constraints, capacity issues among contractors and weak project management.

"Setting ambitious targets is important, but credibility comes from meeting them," said a development analyst. "Until these projects are fully completed and functional, communities will remain sceptical of optimistic timelines."

As Government renews its pledges to complete the projects this year, residents and stakeholders say what matters most is not new completion dates, but visible, sustained progress that finally turns long-standing promises into reality.