TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF SIMON MAZORODZE ROAD FROM HARARE DRIVE TO WILLOWVALE ROAD/ST GEORGE STREET
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development contracted Tensor Systems to upgrade, widen, and rehabilitate Harare-Masvingo Road.
The contractor is now working on the section from Harare Drive to Willowvale Road/St George’s Street along Simon Mazorodze Road.
The motoring public and other road users are hereby notified that the southbound and northbound carriageways along Simon Mazorodze Road from Harare Drive (Chinzou Roundabout) to Willowvale Road/St George’s Street will take turns to be closed for use by the motoring public starting 27 March 2025 until further notice.
This allows the contractor to rehabilitate this section of the road and construct a new bridge over the Willowvale Road/Simon Mazorodze Road junction.
All pedestrians and the motoring public who use the affected road are advised as follows:
A. Construction of the northbound (city-bound carriageway) – detours
<ul>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ul>
<li>Citybound (or northbound) traffic may use Watts Road (the service road adjacent to Simon Mazorodze) by exiting Simon Mazorodze at the Chinzhou roundabout and joining the service lane. Traffic may shift back into Simon Mazorodze after the construction zone.</li>
<li>Alternatively, city-bound traffic may turn left onto Harare Drive, then right onto Willowvale Road, or continue to Highfield Road. Southbound (Masvingo-bound) traffic may continue using the southbound carriageway.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>During this period, Watts shall operate as a one-way street.</li>
</ul>
B. Construction of the southbound (Masvingo-bound carriageway) – detours
<ul>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ul>
<li>Northbound (city-bound) traffic shall continue to use Watts Road, which shall continue to operate as a one-way street as described above.</li>
<li>Southbound (Masvingo-bound) traffic will be moved to the then-completed northbound carriageway.</li>
<li>Alternatively, southbound traffic may turn left into Daniel Street, then immediately right into Mibirimi Drive, left into St George’s Street, right into Waterfalls Avenue, then back into Simon Mazorodze Road.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
C. Other detours
<ul>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ul>
<li>Other diversion routes will be advised as they are prepared.</li>
<li>Additional diversions shall be added to allow bridge construction.</li>
<li>Road users are free to use any other roads of their choice, but the Ministry will only be responsible for the designated routes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
D. Road users are advised to follow the traffic signs strictly and at all times cooperate with traffic controllers posted in and around the construction zone.
E. Allow for extra time to reach intended destinations.
F. Give right of way to all construction machinery, including all vehicles branded Tensor Systems, to ensure safety for all road users.
We look forward to your continued support, understanding, and cooperation to ensure everyone’s safety and the timely completion of this project.

Pindula News

The Ministry is fixing a road from Harare Drive to Willowvale Road. It will be closed from 27 March 2025. People can use detours to get around. Follow the signs and be careful around the construction. The project will make the road better for everyone.

Part Of Simon Mazorodze Road Closed For Upgrading, Widening And Rehabilitation [Full Statement]

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Felix Mhona, said that a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) is being structured to address the rehabilitation of the Beitbridge-Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road, which is currently in poor condition.
Speaking at a media briefing in Harare on Monday, 17 March, Mhona said the PPP arrangement is undergoing due process, including a feasibility study and other preliminary assessments.
He urged the public to be patient, saying the estimated timeline for completing the rehabilitation of this vital stretch of road is 36 months.
Mhona also emphasized the capital-intensive nature of such infrastructure projects, revealing that the global average cost for road reconstruction is approximately US$1 million per kilometre. He said:
<blockquote>
Zimbabwe’s entire road network spans close to 90 000 kilometres, including gravel roads in rural areas. Under normal circumstances, we would appeal to financiers for concessionary facilities with flexible grace periods to fund such projects. However, the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe have significantly impacted our ability to secure funding for infrastructure development.
</blockquote>
The Minister said the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) has played a crucial role in collecting funds to ensure the maintenance of the country’s roads.
The Ministry of Transport recently announced that sections of the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Highway, in urgent need of repair, are being addressed through a collaborative effort between the Department of Roads and Bitumen World. It added that work is already underway, with teams stationed in Hwange, Halfway, and Insuza.

The Beitbridge-Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road is getting fixed with a PPP. It will take 3 years to complete. The Minister said it costs about US$1 million per kilometre to fix roads. Because of sanctions, Zimbabwe struggles to get funding for road projects. ZINARA helps with road fund collection. The Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Highway is also being repaired with the help of Bitumen World. Teams are already working on parts of the highway in Hwange, Halfway, and Insuza.

Beitbridge-Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road Rehab To Be Completed In Three Years - Transport Minister

The Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) has announced that it will disburse a total of ZWG11.6 billion and two million litres of fuel to road authorities this year.
These funds will be allocated to key road authorities, including local authorities, the Department of Roads, and the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA). In its 2024 public report released over the weekend, ZINARA stated:
<blockquote>
ZINARA has set aside a proposed budget of ZWG11.6 billion for financial disbursements for the year and will continue with the momentum to capacitate road authorities to draw down their annual budgets effectively.
ZINARA has also made provisions for a further two million litres of fuel to add to the financial disbursements.
Further to these disbursements, ZINARA will continue to provide technical support through periodic refresher training as well as project support by the ZINARA provincial engineers.
</blockquote>
The report reveals that road authorities exceeded their target, achieving 122% of planned works, maintaining 37,000 km of roads, surpassing the national target of 30,000 km. In comparison, 23,000 km of roads were maintained in 2023.
Key 2024 projects included the Bulawayo-Nkayi Road rehabilitation, the Nyanga-Ruwangwe resurfacing, the Shurugwi-Mhandamabwe road, the Golden Valley-Sanyati project, and greater Harare road works.
The report also noted that 53 out of 94 road authorities utilised over 90% of their budgets, with 15 using 100%. Mashonaland East topped with 95%, followed by Matabeleland South at 92%, and Harare at 90%. However, Bulawayo Metropolitan used only 64%, and Matabeleland North used 84%.
Over 1.9 million litres of fuel were disbursed, with 20 authorities drawing their full allocations.
Meanwhile, the Government has extended the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP2) due to widespread road damage, including the destruction of bridges and severe potholes, particularly in rural areas. 
Due to extensive road damage across the country, businesses are struggling with costly fleet repairs, leading to higher transportation costs, inefficiencies in goods supply, and challenges in transporting people to their usual destinations.
More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/zwg116bn-for-road-repairs-infrastructure-faces-severe-damage-from-rains/">Chronicle</a>

ZINARA, a road administration in Zimbabwe, is giving ZWG11.6 billion and two million litres of fuel to fix roads this year. The money and fuel will go to different road authorities. These authorities did a good job fixing roads last year, even exceeding their goal. Some big projects for this year include fixing roads in Bulawayo, Nyanga, Shurugwi, and Harare. Some road authorities used their budgets well, while others could have used more. Many roads got damaged, so the government is extending a program to fix them. Businesses are having trouble because of the bad roads, which are causing problems with transportation.

ZINARA Allocates ZWG11.6 Billion And Two Million Litres Of Fuel For Road Repairs

The City of Harare has acknowledged responsibility for repairing a stretch of road that is now in poor condition, with signs suggesting the work was poorly executed.
On Monday, February 24, social media personality Mmatigari brought the issue to the attention of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, describing the road’s rehabilitation as “a big crooked mess.” He wrote on X:
<blockquote>
The contractor who resurfaced Harare Drive from Arcturus Road to E D Mnangagwa Road (formerly Enterprise) cheated the people of Zimbabwe
The road surface moves and creates ridges and contours on the entire stretch adjacent to Oriel School at the intersection with Pringle Road.
It’s a big crooked mess.
We can’t surface roads and then need to redo them 2-3 years later. Tingavake Nyika yacho sei manje?
</blockquote>
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development responded and said that the section of the road was rehabilitated by the City of Harare. The Ministry said:
<blockquote>
Please be advised that the section of Harare Drive, stretching from Arcturus Road to ED Mnangagwa Road (formerly Enterprise Road), was rehabilitated by the City of Harare.
This project was not undertaken by the Ministry of Transport &amp; Infrastructural Development. Thank you.
</blockquote>
On Tuesday, the City of Harare confirmed it had contracted a private company to rehabilitate the road section in 2017.
The local authority said is investigating the issue and plans to repair the damaged areas as funds become available. The statement reads:
<blockquote>
Our attention has been drawn to a social media posting on the state of the road on Harare Drive between Acturus Road and ED Mnangagwa Road.
We confirm that the City of Harare indeed contracted a private company to rehabilitate the portion of the road in 2017.
The City of Harare is looking into the issue with a view of working on the damaged parts of the road as funds become available.
It would be prudent that more funds are availed to make sure that we rehabilitate as many link roads as possible to ease pressure on reconstructed roads.
We would like to thank the resident who highlighted the issue and we reiterate that action will be taken.
</blockquote>

The City of Harare says it's their fault that a road is in bad shape. A social media personality complained about the bad road work. The Ministry of Transport said the city did the work. The city admits they hired a private contractor in 2017. They plan to fix the road when they have enough money. They want more funds to fix other roads too. The city thanked the person who complained and promised to take action. They are investigating the problem.

City Of Harare Blames Poor Road Work On Private Contractor

The Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Felix Mhona, said that the rehabilitation of the Harare-Chirundu road will cost more than half a million United States dollars.
Responding to questions from the media during the launch of the project in Harare earlier this week, Mhona said the project should be completed within the next 18 months at a cost of over US$550 million. He said, as quoted by <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/over-us550-million-for-harare-chirundu-highway-rehabilitation-mhona/">NewZimbabwe.com</a>:
<blockquote>
Those who remember, for the Harare-Chirundu road, we were talking of over US$550 million for the rehabilitation. 
This is what we are working with. As we progress, we will continue updating and briefing the electorate.
</blockquote>
Mhona said that not only the Harare-Chirundu highway was undergoing rehabilitation, but all roads countrywide needed attention.
He said the Beitbridge-Masvingo-Harare highway is 99% complete where five local construction companies got contracts to work the busiest highway in the country known as R1.
The companies which are working on the road are Masimba Construction (Pvt) Ltd, Tensor System, Exodus, Fossil and Bitumen.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Harare-Chirundu Highway Rehabilitation To Cost Over US$550 Million - Mhona

Zimbabwe’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Felix Mhona, has said delays in rehabilitating the country’s road network were due to budget limitations. 
Mhona assured Parliament that all stalled road projects have now been resumed nationwide. He highlighted the significance of good roads for economic growth, noting that a well-developed road system leads to a stronger economy. He affirmed the government’s commitment to utilising domestic funds to enhance the country’s infrastructure. He said: 
<blockquote>
We are against sanctions and we are using our resources, contrary to other jurisdictions where roads are rehabilitated using the funds from World Bank and IMF.
</blockquote>
In response to Minister Mhona’s statement, Collins Bajila, the Emakhandeni-Luveve legislator, raised concerns about the government’s plan to rehabilitate roads under local authorities. Mhona explained that although the government is working on these roads, once the rehabilitation is complete, they will be handed back to the respective councils.
The government accuses the councils of neglecting the road networks within cities. Referring to the Road Act, subsection 5 (4), the government states that if a local authority fails to fulfil its responsibilities, the Ministry of Transport will step in and take over the task of rehabilitating the road. Mhona said:
<blockquote>
The road will eventually be submitted back to the local authority. Indeed, we rehabilitate such roads and hand them over for maintenance to the municipal authorities.
That is why you see most urban roads being refurbished. When we take over, it means that someone has failed to do their job.
We appreciate the fact that the roads that were alluded to by the Hon. Members are going to be rehabilitated and we will take them back to the municipal authorities.
</blockquote>
The government has periodically halted payments to its contractors in an attempt to stabilise the depreciating Zimbabwe dollar and combat hyperinflation. However, this decision has caused delays in project completion. Treasury argues that <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/2022/08/11/govt-halts-payments-to-its-contractors-to-curb-inflation/">contractors have been submitting invoices using parallel market rates,</a> which has led to instability in the foreign exchange market and inflated prices for goods and services.
<h3><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>

"Delays In Road Rehabilitation Due To Budget Constraints," Says Transport Minister

The Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) has condemned local authorities for shoddy work on some road rehabilitation projects that are undertaken using funds disbursed by ZINARA.
In a statement, ZINARA also chided local authorities for overcommitting or signing contracts that are way above the resources allocated. ZINARA said:
<blockquote>
Another area of concern noted by ZINARA in 2022 was the low quality of work by some local authorities.
There is a need for local authorities contractors to ensure sustainable quality work because the resources that ZINARA has are limited compared to the work that needs to be done on our roads.
Analysis of the 2022 disbursement statistical data, ZINARA noted that some local authorities overcommitted and entered contracts that were way above their allocations.
Going forward, ZINARA urges the local authorities to budget within their allocations and ensure timely acquittals of disbursed funds.
This is prudentially important in terms of value preservation of their allocated funds.
</blockquote>
ZINARA has unveiled ZWL$93 billion towards road rehabilitation and maintenance this year while over ZWL$30 billion was disbursed to local authorities last year.
According to the latest funding disbursement report issued by ZINARA on Sunday, 22 January 2023, Harare Metropolitan Province received the highest funding of $1.73 billion in 2022.
Matabeleland region, which includes Bulawayo and sister provinces of Matabeleland North and South, got a combined total of $1.24 billion.
Matabeleland North Province received $422.9 million, with Victoria Falls receiving the highest amount of $120.8 million for road rehabilitation and maintenance under the urban councils’ category in the province.
Umguza Rural District Council got the lion’s share among rural local authorities in Mat’ North Province. It received $70.9 million. | <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/zinara-blasts-councils-over-shoddy-jobs/">Chronicle</a>

ZINARA Condemns Local Authorities Over Poor Workmanship On Road Projects

The government requires over ZWL$700 billion to complete its outstanding major road construction and rehabilitation countrywide.
This was said by Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Felix Mhona while addressing journalists on Thursday on the sidelines of an annual strategic planning meeting held in Bulawayo. He said:
<blockquote>
The ministry requires over $700 billion to fund the operations of the ministry. However, whenever one is doing a budget there is a resource and what can be afforded just like in any household set up and as a ministry, we got $125 billion as a resource and what can be accommodated.
To be honest, we cannot do everything at once, so we are stuck because our wish list contradicts what is available.
What we have in the pot determines what we get as a ministry, that is why we are calling on innovation and progressive ways of supporting the Treasury.
</blockquote>
Mhona said financial challenges coupled with rains have proved a major setback for the road rehabilitation exercise.
He however said significant progress has been made on the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge Road and 350km had been completed by the end of October 2022. Said Mhona:
<blockquote>
Linking this road is the Beitbridge Border Post, which has been upgraded and modernised under a Public Private Partnership with the Zim Borders Consortium. The aim of the project was to improve border efficiency.
With the completion of the project, the turnaround time at the border has improved to below three hours from an average of 20 hours.
</blockquote>
He added that the ministry has so far managed to rehabilitate 13 109km of the roads across the country. | <a href="https://cite.org.zw/govt-requires-700-billion-for-roads-rehab/">CITE</a>

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