Business Reporter
SIGNIFICANT progress has been achieved in the construction of the Gwanda – Maphisa Road with completion target scheduled for the first quarter of 2026.
The Gwanda-Maphisa Road is a major road project in Zimbabwe’s Matabeleland South Province that is currently under construction to upgrade it from a gravel road to a more durable surface.
Initial works covering the first 10km stretch of the road are almost nearing completion.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the Transport and Infrastructure Development Ministry’s organized Media Tour in Gwanda Thursday, Deputy Minister Joshua Sacco said the project carries a huge national dividend.
“This is very important because ultimately we want to connect all communities in Zimbabwe. There is an outcry for ease of travelling to the West where Mphoeng Border Post lies.The road will also reduce travel time for people travelling from Botswana through Plumtree, who would want to travel to the South, cutting out Bulawayo, reducing distance and also saving on time,” he said.
Sacco said the road would up activity in the mining town by enhancing economic activity
“The road upgrade is part of a wider programme of legacy projects that will accompany the historic decision to hold the 2026 Independence celebrations at Maphisa Open Grounds in line with the Second Republic’s devolution and decentralisation agenda, “he said.
An official from Doppio Construction Company,Langa Makono said the road is a three-base layer with subgrades, base two and base one.
“The base one we are going to stabilise with cement, then we put the 30mm asphalt concrete on this one. As you have seen the work on the beginning of the section, we are dumping here, then here we are cutting the mountain. We expect to be done, say by 21 December 2025, we are expecting to be complete and given this 10km,” he said.
Once completed , the road will serve as the shortest route to Maphisa for travellers from Gwanda, Beitbridge, Insiza, Masvingo and beyond and will also strengthen intra-district connectivity, opening up new local business opportunities.
