Itai Ndongwe
MASVINGO – Masimba Holdings has officially commissioned the Mucheke River Bridge in Masvingo, marking the first phase of a three-bridge integrated bypass designed to reclaim traffic share on the critical North-South trade corridor.
The project is a strategic pivot for regional logistics, linking the South African border at Beitbridge to Chirundu and Nyamapanda.
The bypass aims to significantly improve the transit efficiency of goods heading to Zambia, Malawi, and the DRC, ensuring Zimbabwe remains a competitive hub in the face of shifting regional trade routes.
Speaking to FinX on the sidelines of the event, Masimba CEO Engineer Fungai Matahwa noted that the infrastructure upgrade is a direct response to the increasing use of the Kazungula Bridge by regional hauliers.
He highlighted that the opening of the Mucheke River Bridge helps decongest traffic and ease passage to attract more volume back to this corridor. Matahwa emphasized that this infrastructure will ensure Zimbabwe remains competitive while stimulating economic activity and industrial growth within the Masvingo zone.
The Mucheke River Bridge is the anchor of a three-part structural network designed to redirect heavy haulage away from the Masvingo city center. While this main bridge is now operational, an interchange flyover located behind the structure is slated for completion between November and December.
Meanwhile, the Chimusana Bridge, which links the town to the interchange, is currently 70% complete. That section is awaiting beams and decking, with an expected commissioning date in October. Once all three structures are complete, they will form a triangular bypass allowing through-traffic to avoid the CBD entirely.
Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Felix Mhona characterized the bridge as a continental economic asset during the commissioning, noting that the investment carries a lifespan measured in generations.
Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Ezra Chadzamira added that the project provides much-needed relief to a city center that has historically absorbed heavy transit traffic, directly benefiting the tourism sector anchored by Great Zimbabwe and Lake Mutirikwi.
The 80-metre Mucheke River Bridge features a 16.9-metre-wide continuous deck and has been engineered for modern climate resilience, specifically designed to handle extreme flood conditions. Safety has also been prioritized through a separate 1.5-metre pedestrian walkway that isolates foot traffic from the main carriageway.
Representing the Masimba board, Engineer Herbert Mashanyare noted that the project underscores the firm’s 75-year legacy, with the majority of the work—including design and technical engineering—executed by local talent.
Masimba’s Broader Project Pipeline
Beyond the Masvingo bypass, Masimba Holdings is aggressively diversifying its portfolio across mining, energy, and housing. In the mining sector, the company is currently executing contracts for tailings dams and silos, alongside ongoing solar projects.
The firm’s recent completion of a 5MW hydroelectric power station further signals its intent to expand within the renewable energy space to support industrial clients.In the industrial and residential segments, Masimba is developing strategic warehouses in Harare to meet surging logistics demand.
Its housing portfolio includes the development of residential stands at Impali in Shurugwi and the completion of 2,000 high-density stands at Cauldry Park in Bulawayo. On the national road network, the company is finalizing the Kaseke section in Maphisa and continuing work on the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls road.
Matahwa expects that up to 40 kilometres of the Victoria Falls route will be accessible to traffic by June, maintaining the company’s momentum in the infrastructure sector.
