Matabeleland roads collapse, raising allegations of neglect

The state of highways and rural roads in Matabeleland has deteriorated drastically, with several areas becoming inaccessible after heavy rains destroyed bridges and cut off communities. The collapse has sparked concern over the region's neglected infrastructure.

Mqondisi-Moyo, president of the Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP), described the road conditions as a sign of deliberate marginalisation by the Zanu-PF government. He accused authorities of neglecting Matabeleland while significant funds from the national budget were spent elsewhere.

Last week, heavy rains caused the Old Bulawayo–Gwanda road in Gulabahwa—a sacred ancestral site of the Ndebele and Kalanga people—to collapse. A bridge along the route gave way on Friday, cutting off entire communities and severing access to markets, schools, clinics, and places of worship.

"This road is not a luxury; it is a lifeline," Moyo said. "Its collapse once again exposes how Matabeleland is treated as a disposable hinterland by a Harare-based government that neither listens nor cares."

Moyo added that basic road infrastructure, including bridges and drainage systems, has been neglected for years. Temporary crossings are used at swollen rivers, leaving motorists and residents at risk. Recent incidents include a vehicle being swept away at a low-level bridge over the Hovi/Ovi River in Matobo district, and Gwanda town being effectively split in two due to the Mtshabezi River submerging a low-level bridge.

"The low-level bridge has remained submerged for days, preventing access to schools, hospitals, workplaces, shopping facilities, and emergency services," Moyo said. "Children are missing school, patients cannot reach clinics, and economic life has ground to a halt—not because the rains were unexpected, but because the state never built proper all-weather infrastructure."

Moyo highlighted a series of neglected roads across Matabeleland, including the Beitbridge–Bulawayo, Bulawayo–Victoria Falls, Bulawayo–Tsholotsho, Bulawayo–Nkayi, and Gwanda–Maphisa routes. He accused the government of allowing these roads to deteriorate despite their economic, tourism, and social importance.

He also raised concerns over road funding, noting that the government collects substantial revenue through vehicle licensing fees, fuel levies, transit fees, and road access charges, yet communities continue to suffer from collapsed roads.

"Where is this money being invested if not in Matabeleland?" Moyo asked. "Communities are being left isolated, and basic infrastructure is failing while funds are collected from citizens."

Despite claims by the government that Bulawayo–Victoria Falls and Bulawayo–Nkayi roads are being rehabilitated, motorists report shocking deterioration, particularly after the recent rains.

Moyo described the neglect as "criminal negligence masquerading as governance" and urged the government to prioritise the region's roads before more lives and livelihoods are affected.