Story by Tichaona Kurewa
THE rehabilitation of the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road has gathered momentum following the opening of more than five kilometres of a newly reconstructed section in Jotsholo, Lupane District, marking another milestone in the upgrade of one of Zimbabwe’s most strategic highways.
The latest development comes as eight contractors intensify civil works on the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Highway in line with government directives to complete the project by 2026. The newly opened stretch was reconstructed by Bitumen Resources and has been opened to traffic to ease movement for local communities and motorists.
The road rehabilitation programme is designed to improve road safety, enhance access to tourism destinations, and strengthen regional trade along the North-South Corridor.
Contractors on site said the project is already beginning to deliver tangible benefits to communities along the highway.
“We are grateful for the work being done to upgrade this road, as it will benefit this community and attract more investors in the tourism industry. The work being done here is encouraging, and we urge all communities along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road not to disturb the ongoing construction works. This project is good for the community,” a contractor said.
Providing an update on progress, Bitumen Resources project engineer Mr Innocent Mariwi said the newly opened section marks the first phase of a much larger allocation.
“Today, we are opening the first phase of a 5.4-kilometre stretch out of the 51 kilometres allocated to us. Our starting point is Jotsholo heading towards Lupane. Going forward, we will open another five-kilometre stretch by the end of February 2026. The works will be done in phases, with the entire 51 kilometres expected to be completed by October 2026,” Mr Mariwi said.
Matabeleland North Provincial Roads Engineer Mr Xolani Ncube said the opening of sections by different contractors is steadily improving traffic flow along the highway.
“Considering that other contractors have also opened sections to traffic, we now have a total of 37.5 kilometres opened out of the 440.4 kilometres. We look forward to more sections being opened so that the road becomes trafficable for communities along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Highway,” Mr Ncube noted.
Government has welcomed the progress made so far, saying the rehabilitation of the highway remains a national priority.
Matabeleland North Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Richard Moyo, said the upgrade will significantly improve travel conditions, particularly during peak periods.
“We are thankful to His Excellency the President for prioritising the rehabilitation of the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road. Motorists will enjoy smoother travel, especially during the holiday period. We are expecting more sections to be opened to traffic as most contractors resume work in January after the festive break,” Honourable Moyo said
The Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road is a critical transport artery within the North-South Corridor, linking South Africa through the Beitbridge Border Post to Zambia via the Victoria Falls and Kazungula Border Posts, and plays a key role in regional trade, tourism and economic integration.
