By Nigel Pfunde
As the year draws to its close with just two months remaining on the calendar, this publication takes a reflective pause to take stock of the transformative work accomplished across government ministries through a series of special end-of-year feature reports under yhe banner Ministerial Focus with Nigel Pfunde.
In this installment , our spotlight turns to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, where under the stewardship of Minister Advocate Felix Mhona, the Second Republic has executed a dramatic and sweeping modernization of Zimbabwe’s national infrastructure. Guided by the overarching socio-economic vision of Vision 2030, Minister Mhona has spearheaded a massive overhaul of the country’s transit landscape, prioritizing major arterial highways, state-of-the-art aviation terminals, and key urban bypasses to dismantle long-standing logistical bottlenecks, breathing vibrant new life into trade corridors, tourism hotspots and national supply chains.
Rebuilding the backbone of regional Trade
At the centerpiece of this infrastructure drive is the landmark reconstruction and dualization of the 580-kilometer Harare–Beitbridge Highway. Long notorious for severe congestion and wear, the highway has been systematically rebuilt using local resources, indigenous contractors and home-grown engineering talent. As the primary corridor connecting South Africa which is Africa’s most industrialized economy to Zimbabwe and the North-South Corridor into Zambia, Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo, this trunk road now accommodates smooth, high-volume cargo transit. The dramatic reduction in transit times and haulage risks has significantly lowered the cost of importing essential capital goods, industrial inputs and consumer merchandise while bolstering the competitiveness of Zimbabwe’s agricultural and mineral exports heading toward Southern African ports.
Unlocking key tourism and mining belts
In tandem with the south-bound trade arterial, Minister Mhona’s portfolio has delivered critical improvements along the northern and western tourism belts, particularly the strategic Hwange–Victoria Falls road corridors which is underway with 10 contractors being assigned with a target of year end. This ongoing project of expanding and resurfacing the vital roadways feeding into North Matabeleland, the Ministry is aiming to directly stimulate the tourism economy. On completion, the smoothed linkages between regional mining zones in Hwange and the international resort city of Victoria Falls will allow for safer, faster and more seamless transit for overland safari operators, international tour groups and local commuters alike.
Elevating Zimbabwe’s Aviation Hubs
Complementing the terrestrial transport revolution is a parallel overhaul of the nation’s aviation sector. Under Minister Mhona’s direct superintendence, the expansion of the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare was completed, introducing modern passenger terminals, upgraded air traffic management systems and a newly commissioned VVIP Pavilion tailored for international diplomatic events. Together with upgraded facilities at Victoria Falls International Airport and Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe has expanded its handling capacity for both passenger traffic and airborne cargo, attracting new international airlines and restoring the country’s status as a regional aviation hub.
Whole-of-Government Approach to Delivery
Beyond single-sector projects, Minister Mhona’s operational philosophy relies heavily on a “whole-of-government” approach, establishing close multi-ministerial synergy to achieve national development in toto. The Ministry has partnered directly with the Ministry of Environment, Climate, and Wildlife on sustainable land clearing, quarrying approvals and biodiversity offsets along major road construction routes. It works in close alignment with the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage to integrate automated tolling, security monitoring and border technology across border posts like Beitbridge and Forbes. Furthermore, by collaborating with the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, his team successfully executed major urban congestion relief projects, most notably the Trabablas Interchange (formerly Mbudzi Interchange) uniting national arterial planning with local government road networks.
Stakeholder endorsements accross key sectors and sister ministries
This integrative approach has earned endorsement across diverse industry sectors and sister ministries.
Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Barbara Rwodzi, has routinely highlighted that smooth, safe and reliable highway connectivity is the backbone of the “Visit Zimbabwe” initiative, directly driving increased tourist arrivals and regional hotel occupancy rates. On the trade front, Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries has said that that the newly rehabilitated trade corridors have noticeably cut turnaround times for industrial raw materials, protecting domestic supply chains from costly delays. From the agricultural sector, Zimbabwe National Farmers Union (ZNFU) founder Monica Chinamasa commended the infrastructure ministry for repairing feeder and trunk routes, which allows rural grain and horticulture farmers to haul produce to central markets before spoilage occurs. Furthermore, Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Masuka, praised the inter-ministerial synergy that ensures newly constructed dams and irrigation schemes are immediately paired with access roads to link rural producers straight into national distribution systems.
A sustainable blueprint for economic growth
Through this multi-faceted execution, Minister Felix Mhona has established a sustainable blueprint for national development. By linking primary industries to export markets, opening high-value tourist zones to the world, modernizing international airways, and breaking down ministerial silos, his transport initiatives continue to lay the physical groundwork required for Zimbabwe’s emerging economic growth.
NB:As we draw close to end of the year we are mandated to inform and edu ate the public as the Fouth Estate, we thrive to run these special features accross all government ministries to track policy and measure results that they pledged and promised to their principal President Mnangagwa in their performance based contracts .In that light ministry public relations and advocacy officers are free to contact us on 0773005916/0774683233
