By Staff Reporter
THE multi-million Trabablas lnterchange situated along the Harare-Beitbridge highway is scheduled to officially opened to motorists this month.
According to the Transport and Infrastructural Development Ministry, construction is almost complete.
“The Trabablas Interchange construction project is almost complete. We’ll be opening it to traffic in May 2025. Stay tuned for the grand opening!!” reads a post on the ministry’s X handle.
The Trabablas Interchange, built at a staggering US$88 million, was once a notorious traffic bottleneck. It was transformed into a multi-level interchange aimed at easing traffic congestion and boosting regional trade.
While the development promises improved infrastructure and economic benefits, it has faced criticism over its high cost, safety concerns, and a questionable renaming after President Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose wartime nickname was “Trabablas”.
Situated in the heart of Harare, where Simon Mazorodze, Chitungwiza, and High Glen roads converge, the massive infrastructure project has been taking shape for years.
According to government, the roadworks are a critical junction along the Harare-Beitbridge highway and touted as a game-changer for easing traffic congestion and boosting regional trade.
The Mbudzi roundabout, as it was previously known, was a notorious bottleneck in Harare. During peak hours, commuters faced agonizing delays as vehicles from western Chitungwiza, surrounding suburbs, and the Harare-Masvingo highway converged in a chaotic snarl.
Heavy regional traffic heading to and from South Africa exacerbated the gridlock. For years, the roundabout was a daily struggle for motorists and a barrier to efficient transport along one of Zimbabwe’s most vital trade routes.