By Advent Shoko
HARARE – The long-neglected 66.5km Harare–Seke–Zvipadze Road, the busiest commuter link between Harare and Chitungwiza, is finally set for a major overhaul beginning February 2026, government sources confirm. Pothole patching is already underway between Unit H and Makoni Shopping Centre to smooth the journey ahead of full reconstruction. Transport Minister Felix Mhona says the project will go beyond repairs, widening the route and adding dedicated bus lanes to improve safety after a rise in fatal accidents along the corridor, including a tragic crash last year that killed 17 people near Hunyani Bridge.
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What the Upgrade Will Include
The planned works will reconstruct and widen the entire Harare–Seke–Zvipadze stretch, upgrading it into a regional expressway designed to ease congestion and enhance traffic flow. Key features of the project:
- Full reconstruction of the existing road surface.
- Widening to dual carriageway where traffic volumes demand it.
- Dedicated bus lanes to support safer, faster public transport.
- Improved signage, drainage, road markings and safety features.
This road serves not just daily commuters but also freight and commercial vehicles linking Harare’s economic hub with surrounding industrial and residential areas, meaning better infrastructure can boost productivity, cut travel time and reduce vehicle operating costs.
Funding, Capacity and Broader Road Plans
While official budget figures for the Seke Road project have not yet been released, the government’s road sector is receiving significant investment through the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme 2 (ERRP2). The Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) allocated ZiG11.6 billion for road upgrades and maintenance in 2025, more than double the previous year’s funding, and has committed fuel and technical support to ramp up works nationwide.
Minister Mhona has also emphasised wider efforts to reduce road fatalities by improving infrastructure and traffic management, a response to both public outcry and strategic goals to enhance national transport safety.
The success of Seke Road’s rehabilitation will hinge on timely funding, robust project management and sustained maintenance capacity, but if delivered as planned, it could transform travel for thousands daily, from schoolchildren and workers to traders and long-distance drivers, turning one of Harare’s most dangerous roads into a safer, faster and more reliable corridor for economic activity and community life.
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