Government Launches Construction of Mabvuku Interchange to Ease Traffic on Harare-Mutare Highway

The Zimbabwean government has officially kicked off construction work on the Mabvuku Interchange along the busy Harare-Mutare Highway, marking a significant advancement in the country’s urban infrastructure upgrade. Early stages include bush-clearing operations to set up detour routes around the construction site, ensuring smoother traffic management during the project.

The Mabvuku Interchange is a key component of the government’s urban decongestion strategy, aimed at improving traffic flow, reducing travel times, and enhancing road safety for thousands of commuters traveling along the eastern corridor of Harare. Once completed, the interchange will serve as a vital connection between the Eastern Highlands, Harare’s city centre, Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, and the satellite town of Chitungwiza, relieving pressure on existing major roadways.

Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Felix Mhona assured the nation during a parliamentary session, “This is no longer just talk. You will soon see physical work on the ground. We are addressing congestion through modern engineering solutions, and Mabvuku is the starting point for many more projects.”

The Mabvuku project is part of a larger urban mobility initiative featuring the rollout of compact, high-capacity “mini-Trabablas” interchanges at strategic urban locations. This innovative approach is designed to streamline traffic in key hotspots, reducing bottlenecks and improving commuter experience.

Minister Mhona revealed that similar interchange developments are planned for several other areas including Kuwadzana, where a new interchange will link Kirkman Road, Harare Drive, and the Chirundu Highway. Other intersections targeted for upgrades include the former Jaggers roundabout, Churchill and Legacy Way, as well as the Borrowdale–Harare Drive junction, all identified as congestion hotspots requiring urgent attention.

Further improvements include plans to widen Borrowdale Road to six lanes up to the police station, and four lanes beyond Glen Forest, aiming to accommodate increasing traffic volumes and enhance road safety.

Outside the capital, the government is also advancing road infrastructure efforts in Bulawayo. Engineers have been tasked with identifying priority intersections suitable for future mini-interchange construction, aligning with the national effort to decongest urban centres.

In addition, emergency road rehabilitation work is underway on the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Road. Minister Mhona confirmed that five contractors have been deployed, each responsible for a 50-kilometre section, to conduct patching and maintenance to ensure safer and smoother travel.

Complementary projects are planned for the Kwekwe–Nkayi–Lupane and Bulawayo–Nkayi Roads, which will offer shorter and safer alternative routes to Victoria Falls, further improving regional connectivity.

The Mabvuku Interchange and these related initiatives signal the government’s commitment to modernising Zimbabwe’s transport infrastructure and easing urban traffic challenges, setting the stage for improved mobility and economic growth.