GOVERNMENT is accelerating a major overhaul of the country’s key north-south trade corridor, framing new infrastructure works as a strategic push to reposition Zimbabwe as a regional logistics hub despite constrained access to external financing.
Zimbabwe serves as a critical, central trade hub in southern Africa, driven by the north-south corridor (linking South Africa to Zambia/DRC) via the rehabilitated Beitbridge-Harare-Chirundu Highway.
Major government initiatives include a US$2 billion rail deal with Zambia (Lion’s Den–Kafue), improvements in border efficiency at Beitbridge and enhanced connectivity to the Trans-Kalahari and Beira corridors.
The north-south corridor (NSC) is one of the busiest routes in the region, linking South Africa through Zimbabwe to Zambia, the DRC and Malawi.
The Beitbridge-Harare-Chirundu corridor is a vital section of the NSC. Upgrades at Beitbridge Border Post, including a new bridge project, are part of efforts to improve cargo movement.
Zimbabwe is also working under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework to reduce trade barriers and boost competitiveness with neighbouring countries.
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Its central location positions it as a key conduit for regional trade, while improved infrastructure is expected to reduce logistics costs and lessen reliance on single transport routes.
Speaking at the commissioning of the Manyame River bridge yesterday, Transport and Infrastructural Development minister Felix Mhona said the project formed part of a coordinated national programme aimed at addressing long-standing bottlenecks along a transport artery linking South Africa to Zambia, the DRC and Malawi.
“This is one of the projects where we are talking about connectivity,” Mhona said. “Bridges are there to bridge geographical gaps and this is the north-south corridor where we are moving south to South Africa, north to Zambia, the DRC and Malawi.”
The corridor is a critical freight route for southern Africa, carrying mineral exports, fuel and manufactured goods across the region.
However, decades of underinvestment have left sections of the network congested and costly to traverse, undermining the country’s competitiveness as a transit economy.
Mhona said government was relying on a structured planning system to guide investment, identifying priority infrastructure through a nationwide mapping exercise.
“As a ministry, we are following a dashboard where we have been mapping the entire nation to see where exactly we can have bridges and trunk roads,” he said.
However, he acknowledged the fiscal pressure of funding large-scale infrastructure projects internally, noting both constraints and progress under difficult conditions.
“We have learned from this project that tapping into the fiscus is difficult, but we must hasten to note that we are under very difficult circumstances where we are using our own resources,” Mhona said.
“I am happy that, regardless of those stumbling blocks, we have managed as a country and I want to thank our great leader for championing road rehabilitation.”
The Manyame River bridge is part of a 580km rehabilitation programme along the corridor, of which about 550km has already been completed.
Mhona said the final 30km was expected to be finished within the year, marking a major milestone in the corridor upgrade.
“We anticipate opening during the course of the year the remaining 30 kilometres,” he said.
“We are now moving towards the north to rehabilitate the Harare-Chirundu Road and also border posts. We have resolved to make it trafficable while we are working on the road over rail,” he said.
Further progress is being made on the Ngundu section, where the government is dualising a 16km stretch. More than 60% of the works have already been completed, with overtaking lanes planned to improve safety and ease congestion in mountainous terrain.
“It is part of the work that we are doing that will be completed during the course of the year,” Mhona said.
“The idea is to enhance trade, enhance the movement of people and ensure connectivity,” Mhona said. “As a country, we are strategically positioned and this infrastructure will make us a favoured destination.”
With major sections of the corridor nearing completion, the government is increasingly presenting its infrastructure drive as a broader economic strategy aimed at strengthening regional integration and restoring Zimbabwe’s role as a key transit gateway in southern Africa.