The critical Bulawayo–Kezi–Maphisa road project has entered a high-intensity phase as the government implements a multi-contractor strategy to fast-track the modernization of this vital link in Matabeleland South.

In a move designed to enhance efficiency and ensure rapid delivery, the project has been strategically divided into seven distinct sections. Under this arrangement, seven different construction firms have been assigned approximately 9km each, with the specific mandate to bring their respective stretches up to full tarring and surfacing.

This collaborative engineering effort begins in earnest at the 34km peg, where a consortium of domestic contractors has been mobilized. The companies currently engaged in this intensive rehabilitation drive include Derivative Resources, Geoflex, JR Goddard, Trolling Civil Engineers, Bidawell, Masimba Holdings, and More Surface.

Collectively, these firms are responsible for the comprehensive reconstruction and surfacing of the corridor extending all the way to the 98km peg. By deploying multiple contractors simultaneously, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development aims to eliminate traditional bottlenecks and ensure that significant progress is achieved across several fronts at once.

Beyond the 98km mark, the scope of the project transitions into specialized maintenance and expansion. From this point reaching into Maphisa, the focus shifts to an asphalt overlay, a crucial re-sealing process designed to reinforce the existing road base and provide a smooth, durable surface for heavy-duty transit. This phase is essential for extending the lifespan of the highway and improving safety for the high volume of traffic that services the agricultural and mining hubs in the Kezi and Maphisa districts.

The infrastructure drive also extends past the main business centre, targeting the route from Maphisa to Mahetshe. In this final sector, Bitumen World has been contracted to oversee the construction of a 6km stretch leading toward the popular children’s park. This specific segment is being built to full surfacing standards, ensuring that community recreational areas and local transit routes are as well-developed as the primary highway.

Once completed, this multi-contractor initiative will not only reduce travel times between Bulawayo and the southern border regions but also act as a major catalyst for economic growth and local tourism within the Matabeleland South province.