by BEKEZELA NDEBELE
LUPANE – WHILE the long-overdue rehabilitation of the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls highway has been widely welcomed as a necessary step toward restoring one of Zimbabwe’s key economic arteries, citizens and transport experts have condemned the snail-paced progress and deep-seated corruption that continue to cripple national infrastructure projects.
Residents of Matabeleland North have sharply criticised the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development for what they describe as a lack of urgency and accountability in the rehabilitation programme.
The project—meant to upgrade a critical section of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) North-South Corridor that links Beitbridge to Chirundu—has been progressing at a rate that many call “embarrassingly slow.”
The Ministry, led by Transport Minister Felix Mhona, recently issued a progress update claiming work was “well underway” with cement stabilisation currently in progress around Insuza.
The statement added that the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Road covers a total length of 440.4 kilometres, but only 19.2 kilometres have so far been completed and opened to traffic—less than 5% of the entire project.
The remaining 421.2 kilometres are still under construction, with no clear completion date announced.
“As a key project for boosting regional connectivity, tourism, and trade, we are committed to the journey. While there is still a long way to go, we are paving the way forward, #KilometerByKilometer,” minister Mhona’s office stated in a social media post.
However, that assurance has done little to calm public frustration. Many Zimbabweans view the government’s repeated promises and self-congratulatory statements as a cover for mismanagement and systemic corruption within ZANU-PF’s infrastructure programmes.
Social media users reacted with anger and mockery, questioning the government’s transparency and competence.
“When did the project start? When will it finish? What’s the total cost, and who’s funding it? Who are the contractors?” asked one Lupane resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Another citizen, Mauricy Nyazika, criticised the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF) party’s culture of mediocrity.
“Then they (ZANU-PF supporters) celebrate opening just 6km out of 440km!”
Others echoed similar sentiments. “*Nineteen kilometres out of 440 is barely 4%. Not even worth a press release,” wrote a user identifying as TheBush Master.
Another, Makanaka Zvekutodaro, fumed: “Even when other countries rebuild their roads, they don’t trumpet it daily like you do. ZANU-PF’s obsession with propaganda is insulting to struggling citizens.”
Zimbabwe’s highway system—once among the best in southern Africa—has deteriorated dramatically over the past two decades due to chronic neglect, looting, and poor maintenance.
The Beitbridge–Chirundu Highway, a key SADC trade route linking South Africa to Zambia, has become a symbol of both economic decay and corruption.
Repeatedly, the government has awarded multi-million-dollar road contracts to politically connected companies lacking the capacity or transparency to deliver.
The Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (ZINARA) has long been accused of inflating tenders, diverting funds, and mismanaging road maintenance levies.
Investigations by the Auditor-General have repeatedly exposed irregularities in road funds, including payments to “ghost contractors” and missing financial records.
Yet, few high-profile arrests or prosecutions have followed, reinforcing the perception that corruption under ZANU-PF is not only tolerated but institutionalised.
The Bulawayo–Victoria Falls road is one of Zimbabwe’s most important tourism corridors, linking the country’s second-largest city to the world-renowned Victoria Falls—one of Africa’s most visited natural wonders.
The road also carries significant regional trade traffic from Botswana, Namibia and Zambia.
Frequent accidents, potholes, and deteriorating bridges have made the journey perilous, deterring both local and international tourists.
The state of disrepair has also hurt businesses that rely on cross-border movement and logistics, further weakening Zimbabwe’s economic competitiveness in the SADC region.
Critics argue that ZANU-PF’s decades of misrule and self-enrichment have left the country’s transport infrastructure in ruins.
Despite repeated “groundbreaking ceremonies” and grand announcements, the results on the ground remain dismal.
“Zimbabwe’s roads reflect the moral decay of its leadership,” said an independent economist based in Bulawayo. “Instead of building highways to prosperity, ZANU-PF has paved roads to corruption and poverty.”
As the government celebrates “kilometre-by-kilometre” progress, citizens continue to endure cratered highways, inflated contracts, and promises that never materialise—proof that, under ZANU-PF, even the country’s most essential infrastructure has become a victim of politics and plunder.
