Harare – The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has announced that the rehabilitation of the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway has reached a critical milestone, with 550.1 kilometres now completed and opened to traffic, leaving just 31.9 kilometres remaining on the 582-kilometre flagship project.

In a statement, the Ministry confirmed that an additional three-kilometre section was opened to traffic on July 11, 2026, bringing the multi-billion-dollar project to the brink of completion.

The highway, which forms the backbone of Zimbabwe’s regional trade network, carries the majority of the country’s imports and exports to and from South Africa, its largest trading partner.

“The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development says 550.1km of the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway has now been rehabilitated and opened to traffic, leaving just 31.9km before the flagship project reaches completion,” read the statement.

Five local contractors have delivered the rehabilitation works, with Bitumen World completing the largest portion at 130.3 kilometres.

Fossil Contracting follows with 122.6 kilometres, Masimba Holdings with 102 kilometres, Exodus & Company with 98 kilometres, and Tensor Systems with 90 kilometres. A 7.2-kilometre trial section also contributed to the overall completed stretch.

The project forms part of the broader North-South Corridor, a vital trade route linking the ports of South Africa with landlocked economies including Zimbabwe, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. For decades, the road had become a symbol of Zimbabwe’s infrastructure crisis, with sections plagued by potholes, deadly accidents, congestion, and costly delays that weighed heavily on businesses and freight operators.

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona has previously underscored the strategic importance of the corridor and the Government’s commitment to completing the project despite fiscal constraints.

“We are excited that bridges are there to bridge geographical gaps. This is the north-south corridor where we are moving south to South Africa, north to Zambia, and Malawi,” Minister Mhona said at the recent commissioning of the Manyame Bridge.

“Tapping into the fiscus is difficult. We are under very difficult circumstances where we are using our own resources. Regardless of those stumbling blocks, we have managed as a country,” he said.

The near-completion of the highway comes as Zimbabwe seeks to position infrastructure development as a catalyst for economic growth, particularly in mining, manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism sectors that depend on efficient transport networks.

The upgraded highway is expected to reduce transit times, lower costs for exporters, and strengthen Zimbabwe’s competitiveness in attracting investment.

“The completion of the project will improve connectivity, enhance road safety and facilitate the efficient movement of goods and people along this key economic corridor,” the Ministry said.

Remaining works on the highway are anticipated to be completed this year, with the Government also shifting focus to the rehabilitation of the Harare- Chirundu highway, expected to begin between August and September.

Planned interchanges along the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge corridor, including sections at Rothmans and Mbare, are also set to follow.