REPORTS indicate that only 1,2km of the 66km Gwanda–Maphisa Road project has been completed, even as government prepares to host this year’s Zimbabwe Independence Day commemorations in Maphisa, a mining town in Matobo district.
The Independence Day celebrations are set for April 18, which makes it four weeks from now.
The road rehabilitation is one of the flagship “legacy projects” tied to the celebrations in Matabeleland South.
Authorities reportedly engaged six contractors in a bid to accelerate construction and ensure the route is ready before the national event.
But the numbers tell a worrying story.
Of the entire 66km stretch, only about 1,2km of the Kononkwe section has reportedly been completed.
That pace raises serious questions about whether the project will be done properly or simply rushed to meet ceremonial deadlines.
Unfortunately, Zimbabwe has developed an unhealthy habit of doing things at the last minute — particularly when national events are involved.
Even worse, many of these rushed projects are left unfinished once the spotlight fades.
The country has seen this pattern before.
Last year’s Independence Day commemorations were held in Nembudziya, Gokwe.
Ahead of the celebrations, authorities rushed to upgrade the Kadoma to Nembudziya road.
Yet out of the 137km stretch, only about 20km was tarred before the contractors disappeared soon after the celebrations ended.
The result has been devastating for motorists and communities that rely on the road.
What used to be roughly a one hour journey now stretches to nearly four hours because large sections remain in poor condition.
The same troubling trend can also be seen on the Harare-Domboshava Road.
Contractors took an unusually long time to complete works at Chogugudza Bridge.
During that process, the Zimbiru Primary School feeder road was closed — and remains closed long after the supposed completion of the bridge.
No one has returned to fully repair the disruption that was caused.
From Chogugudza Bridge to the Showground area, the road remains in a deplorable condition.
Motorists continue to navigate potholes and uneven surfaces that should have been fixed during the rehabilitation phase.
There is a very real risk that the same fate awaits the Gwanda to Maphisa road project.
Zimbabwe cannot continue treating infrastructure projects as temporary cosmetic exercises designed to impress visitors during national celebrations.
Roads are not stage decorations.
They are long-term public assets that communities depend on daily.
For that reason, government must address the root causes behind these recurring failures.
First, authorities must ensure that financial resources are released on time.
Contractors often cite delayed payments as a major reason projects stall or drag on far beyond their deadlines.
Second, accountability must become non-negotiable.
Companies awarded public contracts must be held to strict performance standards.
If contractors abandon projects or deliver substandard work, they must be compelled to return and correct the defects at their own expense.
A good example is Fossil Contracting, which had to be ordered to redo Lorraine Drive in Bluffhill after the rehabilitation work failed to meet acceptable standards.
That approach should become standard practice.
The government must be brave enough to bite the bullet — forcing contractors to redo poor work and blacklisting those who repeatedly fail to deliver.
Equally important, authorities must follow up on unfinished projects and impose penalties on companies that receive full funding but fail to complete the job.
Zimbabweans deserve roads that last longer than a single Independence Day celebration.