Business Reporter
Finance and Investment Promotion Minister Mthuli Ncube has outlined plans to continue expanding and upgrading Zimbabwe’s road network into 2026, focusing on critical infrastructure that drives economic growth.
In recent years, Zimbabwe has made significant strides in its road development projects, including the rehabilitation and upgrading of major highways like the Beitbridge-Bulawayo-Victoria Falls route and the Harare-Chirundu highway. Plans also include the dualization of the Harare-Nyamapanda road and the construction of new interchanges, such as the Tablabas Interchange in Harare. A range of other projects are underway across the country’s provinces.
Presenting the 2026 National Budget, Minister Ncube emphasized that the country’s economic development goals, particularly the ambition to become a prosperous upper-middle-income society by 2030, rely heavily on continued investment in infrastructure. He stressed that upgrading roads is essential for boosting productivity and catalyzing broader economic transformation.
To this end, the 2026 budget allocates ZWL 4.6 billion to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development. So far, 533.4 kilometers of road have been opened to traffic, with an additional 48.6 kilometers still under construction.
Minister Ncube also highlighted the progress made in 2025, specifically the rehabilitation and upgrading of the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge road, which is nearing completion and expected to be finished by mid-2026.
Looking ahead to 2026, the government will continue to prioritize the completion of the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge road, while also pushing forward with the rehabilitation of the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls road. As of October 2025, 19.2 kilometers of the road, including sections through Hwange and Insiza, had been completed and opened to traffic.
Acknowledging the constraints of limited fiscal space, Minister Ncube announced that Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements will be pursued to fund the rehabilitation and upgrading of key roads, including the Harare-Nyamapanda route, Kwekwe-Nkayi road, Old Gwanda Road, and the Mutare Christmas Pass bypass, among others.
To help finance these projects, the government will also focus on building new tollgates, upgrading existing tollgates, and automating tolling systems to improve efficiency in traffic management and revenue collection.
