Manyame Bridge Opens on Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway, Boosting Regional Trade and Commuter Flow

Source: www.zimbabwesituation.com

The Manyame Bridge along the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge highway was opened to traffic on Monday, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing dualisation project. Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona and Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Itayi Ndudzo jointly commissioned the bridge, which is expected to ease vehicle congestion in Harare and surrounding areas. Minister Ndudzo highlighted the highway’s critical role in regional economic activities, noting that it connects Zimbabwe to South Africa, the largest economy in Sub-Saharan Africa, and facilitates trade across multiple provinces.

The bridge complements the existing Trabablas interchange, which has already helped reduce traffic bottlenecks in the capital. According to Ndudzo, the improved road infrastructure will save time for commuters living in dormitory towns and settlements around Harare, allowing them to spend more time productively. “Time is money, and business requires convenience and a smooth flow of traffic for transactions to be expedited,” he said, adding that the project is a tangible step toward President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 goal of world-class infrastructure built by local contractors.

The Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge highway spans approximately 580 kilometres, with most sections completed and a small stretch still under construction, according to Minister Mhona. As part of the dualisation effort, the government is widening the road as it approaches towns and busy areas. Already, about five kilometres from Beitbridge have been dualised to where the roads to Masvingo and Bulawayo split, while a 16-kilometre stretch between Ngundu Business Centre and Runde River is being dualised. On the Harare-Masvingo Highway, a 20-kilometre stretch leading into Masvingo has been dualised, with plans to dualise 36 kilometres as the highway approaches Harare.

Zimbabwe Building Contractors Association chief executive officer Joyline Zindaga praised the work of local contractors, saying their craftsmanship and dedication on the project have been remarkable. “Zimbabwe is built by Zimbabweans with unmatched quality and delivered with pride. This is how we build our nation, one project at a time,” she said. The government also plans to construct footbridges along the Harare-Beitbridge Highway, with engineers from the Ministry of Transport already engaged, to allow pedestrians to cross safely, with special priority given to crossing points for schoolchildren.

Related topics: Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge highway, infrastructure, regional economic activities, SADC, Minister Itayi Ndudzo, Manyame Bridge, transport, Zimbabwe

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