Mucheke bridge 93% complete, fails compaction test

The new Mucheke (Chevron) Bridge in Masvingo has reached 93 percent completion, but authorities say its official opening remains uncertain due to funding delays and failed compaction tests that required corrective work.

Speaking during a recent media tour led by Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Omphile Marupi, an official from the Office of the President and Cabinet and Masvingo Deputy Provincial Roads Engineer Shadreck Kativhu acknowledged that progress had been slowed by delayed disbursement of funds and technical setbacks.

"The Mucheke (Chevron) river bridge is now 93 percent complete but there are other issues that are delaying the completion. The contractor is being paid by Zimbabwe National Road Administration and the Ministry of Finance. The other issue is that some tests did not pass as required and we have redone. Once there is a snag then we have to redo the work and corrections then proceed to the next," said Kativhu.

Authorities indicated that the outstanding issues relate largely to quality assurance, with completion now anticipated towards the end of February 2026.

The latest update comes amid repeated delays to the project, which was initially expected to open in late 2025. Earlier government projections had pointed to completion between October and November 2025, after the bridge was reported to be around 60 percent complete by May that year.

Despite those timelines, the project has spilled into 2026 without a firm opening date, drawing frustration from motorists and residents who depend on the crossing to connect Masvingo's central business district with suburbs such as Mucheke and Rujeko.

In previous briefings, Kativhu had noted that corrective works were still required and had tentatively suggested they could be resolved by mid-February, although no definitive timeline was provided.

The Mucheke (Chevron) Bridge forms part of the broader Harare-Beitbridge Highway rehabilitation programme, one of Zimbabwe's key transport corridors. Its delayed completion has continued to contribute to congestion and safety concerns along Masvingo's main traffic route.

With the structure nearing completion but critical technical matters still being addressed, uncertainty remains over when the long-awaited bridge will finally be opened to traffic.