Thousands of motorists using the Harare-Mutare Highway are set to benefit from faster and safer travel as construction of the Mabvuku Interchange gathers momentum, with the landmark project now more than halfway complete and on course for commissioning before the end of the year.
The interchange, one of the Second Republic’s flagship transport infrastructure projects, is expected to eliminate chronic traffic congestion at the busy Mabvuku junction while improving the movement of people, goods and services along the strategic Beira Corridor, a key trade route linking Zimbabwe with the Port of Beira in Mozambique.
Works, which began in September 2025, have reached 54% completion, marking another milestone in Government’s drive to modernise the country’s road network and stimulate economic growth through improved transport infrastructure.
In an interview with the media, Deputy Director of Construction in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Engineer Virginia Mawere, said the project had entered a critical phase, with all bridge beams now complete and ready for installation.
“We started in September 2025 and to date we are at 54% progress. As you can see behind us, all the beams are now completed and are ready to be lifted onto the structure. By year end, this structure will be complete,” she said.
Engineer Mawere said the design of the interchange was carefully selected to avoid costly compensation claims while ensuring efficient traffic movement. Although the project experienced minor delays in transporting some construction materials, she said contractors remained firmly on schedule.
She said the completed interchange would replicate the success recorded at the Trabablas Interchange, where travel times have been drastically reduced.
“We are confident that this will have a huge impact. Where people would spend three to four hours at Trabablas, and they now spend about three minutes, we are confident it will be the same here. We have eliminated conflict points in terms of vehicles turning. Right-turning traffic will no longer interfere with vehicles travelling straight,” she said.
The project is also empowering local engineers and creating employment opportunities for surrounding communities while equipping workers with valuable skills for future national infrastructure developments.
Engineer Mawere described the ongoing infrastructure programme as a defining moment for Zimbabwean engineers, particularly women, who are increasingly taking leading roles in delivering major public works.
Workers at the site said participation in flagship projects such as Trabablas and Mabvuku had enhanced their technical expertise and provided sustainable employment.
Meanwhile, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has reaffirmed Government’s commitment to accelerating infrastructure development as a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s modernisation agenda.
“More work lies ahead and the party will not rest or relax. Under the Second Republic, the Zanu PF machinery is moving full speed ahead to guarantee that our people are more prosperous and our nation is modernised and developed. Brick by brick, stone upon stone, we will never tire in the ongoing work to build our country,” said the President.
Mabvuku Interchange forms part of the Greater Harare Interchanges Project, which seeks to decongest the capital’s road network and improve connectivity. Construction has also commenced on the nearby Msasa-Jaggers Interchange, further reinforcing Government’s commitment to building a modern transport system capable of supporting economic growth, regional trade and the country’s Vision 2030 aspirations.
