Bambazonke to open a new section of Harare drive

The construction of the Willowvale Road traffic circle, designed to ease congestion at the intersection of Willowvale Road and Harare Drive, is nearing completion, with the entire stretch up to Simon Mazorodze Road scheduled to open to traffic on Monday, February 23, 2026.

The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development confirmed that the section between Willowvale Road and Simon Mazorodze Road has been completed, with road markings now in place. "Mark your calendars for February 23, 2026. Join us at Chinzou Roundabout as we open the newest stretch of the Harare–Beitbridge highway, the Harare Drive between Simon Mazorodze and Highfield Road, to traffic," the ministry stated.

This latest development follows the 2024 opening of the Harare Drive missing link and Mukuvisi River Bridge, overseen by Transport Minister Felix Mhona. These structures form part of the Trabablas Interchange, formerly known as the Mbudzi Interchange, which comprises 15 major bridges — 13 within the main interchange and two on nearby arterial routes, including Amalinda Road and Harare Drive. The Harare Drive link, connecting Chinzou to Masotcha Ndlovu, spans 800 metres and facilitates east-west traffic flow.

In parallel with the road opening, the government has completed an asphalt plant on the city's outskirts at Skyline, which will also be commissioned on February 23. This plant is part of a wider strategy to enhance domestic road construction capacity, reduce outsourcing costs, and provide premix for reseals and pothole repairs.

Last year, two additional asphalt plants were acquired for Harare and Bulawayo as part of a national plan to establish at least one plant in each of Zimbabwe's ten provinces. The initiative forms a key component of the Department of Roads' recapitalisation under Vision 2030, aimed at improving road construction and maintenance efficiency.

Asphalt, a mixture of bitumen, sand, cement, and chemical additives, is produced at high temperatures to meet engineering specifications and is critical for major construction and maintenance projects. Minister Mhona emphasised that the recapitalisation plan will strengthen provincial road maintenance and construction, ensuring that each province is equipped with an asphalt plant capable of supplying materials for both routine repairs and large-scale projects.

The opening of the Willowvale Road traffic circle and the Skyline asphalt plant marks a significant step in Harare's broader road infrastructure expansion, supporting smoother traffic flow and enhanced maintenance capabilities across the capital and beyond.