Tendai Gukutikwa and Lovemore Kadzura
MAJOR roads in Manicaland are undergoing significant upgrades despite the summer rains, with surfacing works already underway on key routes including the Christmas Pass Bypass, Odzi-Marange, Nyabadza-Odzi, Chipinge-Mt Selinda, and Headlands-Chiendambuya roads.
The projects aim to improve safety, connectivity, and regional trade links, bringing renewed hope to citizens and businesses across the province.
The roadworks form part of the Government’s broader infrastructure modernisation programme designed to position Manicaland as a competitive transit hub.
One of the flagship projects, the Christmas Pass Bypass Road, is expected to divert heavy commercial traffic away from Mutare’s Central Business District, easing congestion and improving safety along one of Zimbabwe’s most accident-prone sections. Residents say the upgrades will boost the local economy by improving access to agricultural markets, tourism destinations, and essential services.
The improved routes are also expected to reduce travel times and enhance livelihoods across the province.
During the 37th Post-Cabinet Press Briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere announced that the 10-kilometre Chipinge-Mt Selinda Road project is on track for completion by December 2025.
He added that the Odzi–Marange route is progressing well, with compaction and priming already completed on the first two kilometres. Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Advocate Felix Mhona said the Manicaland projects are part of President Mnangagwa’s vision to modernise national infrastructure.
Speaking to The Manica Post during a recent visit to Forbes Border Post, Minister Mhona highlighted the President’s emphasis on practical solutions to ground-level challenges.
“The President has consistently emphasised the importance of listening to challenges on the ground and responding with practical solutions. That is why we are seeing targeted investments in both border infrastructure and road networks,” said Minister Mhona.
He noted that congestion and operational delays at Forbes Border Post are being addressed through infrastructure expansion and traffic management reforms.
“We acknowledge bottlenecks, particularly for haulage operators, but the focus is on long-term solutions. One of the key interventions is the construction of a dedicated holding facility for trucks, complete with basic amenities. This is about efficiency, order, and the welfare of transport operators,” he said.
Minister Mhona stressed that improved road connectivity is central to the border modernisation programme, particularly the need to divert heavy commercial traffic away from Mutare’s CBD.
Beyond Mutare, Government is implementing road rehabilitation works across Manicaland, including Chipinge-Mt Selinda, Odzi-Marange, Nyabadza-Odzi, Headlands-Chiendambuya, Birchenough-Murambinda roads.
“These roads are economic enablers. When we improve roads, we unlock production, improve access to services, and strengthen regional integration,” said Minister Mhona.
Manicaland Provincial Roads Engineer in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Engineer Raphael Sigauke said construction works on these major roads are progressing smoothly despite the rains.
He said two kilometres of the Odzi-Marange Road were primed, and ready for surfacing.
Engineer Sigauke said the Murambinda-Birchenough Bridge Road was surfaced for 2,5 km, while the Nyabadza-Odzi Road, key to increasing access to Osborne Dam, was surfaced for 5km.
He said the Chipinge-Mt Selinda Road was surfaced for 10km, with St Guthrie Road surfaced for 4,5km.
The Natpham Access Road was surfaced for 0.8km, while the Headlands-Chiendambuya-Mayo 10km road was ripped for sub-grading.
The Zimbabwe National Roads Authority (ZINARA) allocated ZWG54 351 574 to rural and urban local authorities in Manicaland for road maintenance as at September 30, 2025, in addition to 85 630,81 litres of diesel.
The local authorities utilised 66 percent of their funds allocation, while 78 percent of fuel was utilised.
The ZINARA statistics further showed that the provincial department of roads was allocated ZWG475 980 832, and utilised 52 percent, while the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA) was allocated ZWG199 348 068 and utilised 43 percent towards rehabilitating several strategic rural routes in the province.
Minister Mhona said their plan is to ensure that heavy trucks stop using the Christmas Pass route as soon as possible.
“We are advocating that heavy trucks should no longer pass through the Christmas Pass. Instead, we are constructing the Christmas Pass Bypass Road, which will link directly to Forbes Border Post,” he said.
The Christmas Pass Bypass Road is designed to decongest Mutare CBD, reduce pressure on urban roads and improve road safety along one of the country’s most accident-prone sections.
“I am pleased to report that construction works on the bypass have commenced and are progressing well. This project is critical for traffic flow and safety,” said Minister Mhona.
The bypass was necessitated by the high frequency of accidents along the Christmas Pass curves, where heavily loaded haulage trucks often struggle to negotiate steep descents, leading to brake failures and jack-knifing incidents.
Accidents are recorded almost weekly along the Christmas Pass section, which carries heavy traffic along the Beira Corridor, a key regional route linking Zimbabwe to Mozambique’s Port of Beira, as well as Zambia, Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The bypass road will feature two modern traffic interchanges, similar to the Trabablas Interchange, at both ends to improve traffic efficiency and safety.
“The interchanges will allow smoother movement of vehicles and reduce conflict points. This is modern road infrastructure designed to meet current and future traffic demands,” said Minister Mhona.
The ministry projects that the bypass will be completed within 15 months from the start of construction, with the end of 2026 set as the target completion date, subject to weather conditions and resource availability.
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