Tinotenda Hove – President Emmerson Mnangagwa has once again heaped praise on himself and his administration for the construction of the recently commissioned Trabablas Traffic Interchange in Harare, despite growing public concerns over its quality and allegations of corruption surrounding the project.

Addressing the ZANU PF Politburo during its 384th session at the party’s headquarters on Wednesday, Mnangagwa described the interchange as a symbol of local talent and national resilience.

“The recent towering Trabablas Traffic Interchange, which I officially commissioned, stands as an example of the inherent potential in our young people, their ingenuity, skills, and talent,” said Mnangagwa.
“The fact that the project was completed using our internal resources and under an environment of sanctions is a source of great national pride.”

He went on to portray the project as a triumph of patriotism and self-reliance.

“If we are united, focused, patriotic and work hard to achieve our national aspirations, nothing is impossible. Other road rehabilitation and construction projects throughout the country are also being prioritised.”

However, Mnangagwa’s praise was quickly met with backlash from infrastructure experts and engineers who have raised red flags over the structural integrity and execution of the interchange. Many have described the project as “below standard” and “a cosmetic job” that falls short of international engineering norms.

A civil engineer based in Harare, speaking on condition of anonymity, said:

“What we have is a rushed job that may look impressive from the air, but lacks the structural sophistication and safety design standards expected of a modern interchange. Corners were clearly cut.”

In addition to the technical concerns, allegations of looting and inflated costs have further tainted the project. Sources within the Ministry of Transport allege that millions of dollars were siphoned through inflated tenders and payments to politically connected contractors.

“There was no transparency in how the contractors were selected,” a government insider claimed. “Several companies that bid for the project were overlooked in favour of briefcase firms linked to senior officials.”

This is not the first time Mnangagwa’s infrastructure projects have come under scrutiny. Observers argue that the heavy publicity surrounding developments such as the Trabablas Interchange is part of a broader public relations strategy aimed at masking deeper economic and governance failures.

While Mnangagwa and the ruling ZANU PF continue to tout the interchange as a model success story, critics maintain it reflects misplaced priorities, elite enrichment, and the growing disconnect between leadership rhetoric and Zimbabwe’s economic realities.