Source: Bulawayo’s key road link reopens – herald
Raymond Jaravaza, ray.jaravaza@chronicle.co.zw
THE first phase of the crucial Cecil Avenue rehabilitation project, a vital transport link designed to redirect heavy vehicles away from Bulawayo’s Central Business District (CBD), has been officially opened to traffic following a significant Government-funded upgrade.
The thoroughfare, which connects the main Bulawayo-Harare Road, Coghlan Avenue, and the Bulawayo-Gwanda Road, had deteriorated severely over recent years, diminishing its effectiveness as a key bypass route for long-haul vehicles travelling to and from major corridors such as Victoria Falls, Plumtree, Hope Fountain, and Beitbridge.
Funding for the essential works was provided by the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara), underscoring the Government’s ongoing commitment to its national road infrastructure modernisation programme.
The completion of this initial phase is expected to restore the avenue’s capacity to handle heavy-duty vehicles, improving traffic flow and easing congestion within the city centre. The newly completed 2km section forms part of a 6,5km stretch currently under rehabilitation by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development.
Bulawayo Provincial Roads Engineer Tatenda Nyikayaramba said the remaining 4,5km will be completed by October 2026.
“This completed section runs from the Harare Road turn-off up to Coghlan Avenue, with rehabilitation works set to extend to Hillside Teachers’ College. The entire 6,5km stretch is being upgraded by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, with funding from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Investment, complemented by Zinara resources,” he said.
Engineer Nyikayaramba said, weather permitting, the project remains on schedule.
“Barring any unforeseen weather-related delays, we expect the full rehabilitation of Cecil Avenue up to Hillside Teachers’ College to be completed by October 2026,” he said.Permanent Secretary for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Mr Paul Nyoni, said the reopening of Cecil Avenue underlines the Government’s commitment to assisting local authorities to modernise critical infrastructure in line with Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).
“The completion of Phase One of the Cecil Avenue upgrade is a significant milestone in the infrastructure rehabilitation programme that the Second Republic has been implementing nationwide since 2021.
“Cecil Avenue plays a strategic role in enabling traffic from Plumtree Road, Matopos Road and Gwanda Road to connect to Harare without congesting the city centre, thereby improving traffic flow and efficiency,” he said.
He said Phase Two of the project, which will extend to Hillside Teachers’ College, represents a total investment exceeding US$15 million.
“As Government, we challenge local authorities such as the Bulawayo City Council to ensure proper maintenance of rehabilitated infrastructure so that central Government can redirect resources to other priority projects across the province,” said Mr Nyoni.
Under NDS2, transport infrastructure development has been prioritised to enhance connectivity, reliability and efficiency across all modes — road, rail and air.
Among flagship projects is the US$1,2 billion Beitbridge-Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Highway upgrade, which will include modern toll plazas equipped with weighbridges. The corridor links Zimbabwe to key regional markets such as South Africa, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, making it vital for trade facilitation and reduced logistics costs.
Also in the pipeline is the long-awaited 240km Kwekwe–Lupane Highway, where two construction teams are expected to commence work from opposite ends. Once completed, the highway will shorten the Harare-Victoria Falls route by about 200km, significantly reducing travel time and transport costs.
In addition, Government plans to roll out the 159km Bulawayo-Nkayi Road project, described as a transformative development that will enhance mobility, commerce and service delivery across Matabeleland North and the Midlands.
Despite constrained access to external financing, the Second Republic continues to channel substantial resources into infrastructure development, with road rehabilitation prioritised as a catalyst for economic transformation, investment attraction and inclusive growth.
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