Harare–Mazowe Road Dualisation Takes Shape

The Harare–Mazowe Road dualisation project is finally underway (image source)

For years, the Harare–Mazowe Road has been synonymous with frustration. To commuters, it has long been a bottleneck; to farmers, a costly obstacle; and to police records, a graveyard of traffic accidents. Today, bulldozers and contractors are rewriting that story. The long-awaited dualisation of the Harare–Mazowe Road is finally underway, promising a safer and more prosperous future.

A Project Long in the Making

The project, linking Harare to Mazowe and eventually northern Zimbabwe, has been in the pipeline for more than a decade. Progress was delayed by funding gaps and inflation, but as of mid-2025, contractors are clearing land and laying out foundations for a modern dual carriageway. Officials expect the Harare–Henderson section to be complete by October 2025, with the Eskbank tollgate relocated to ease congestion.

Road Safety First

For the public, the biggest dividend is road safety. Dualisation reduces head-on crashes, a scourge on this corridor used by buses, haulage trucks, and schoolchildren on bicycles. Education leaders have already welcomed the move. Grace Chivhu of Graigen Grower Secondary School said, “Our school has suffered from traffic hazards. This brings hope for safer journeys.”

Boosting Agriculture and Tourism

The road runs through agricultural heartlands. Farmers transporting citrus, maize, and tobacco will benefit from faster market access and lower transport costs. Tourism, too, stands to gain from smoother travel to Mazowe Dam and historic churches. “Improved infrastructure means improved access to markets, jobs, and training centres,” said Philip Samanje of the National Youth Service.

Economic Vision 2030

The dualisation feeds into Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030, the government’s plan to achieve upper-middle-income status through infrastructure renewal. At roughly US$1 million per kilometre, the project is costly, but officials argue the long-term dividends in trade and safety will outweigh the initial expense.

Looking Ahead

Residents are already planning new malls, public markets, and transport terminals around the road. But transport experts warn about upkeep. One University of Zimbabwe economist noted: “We must ensure this doesn’t become another case of build, neglect, rebuild.”

The Harare–Mazowe Road is finally being reshaped into a safer, faster, and more reliable artery—signalling progress for communities, businesses, and the nation’s economic aspirations.