The Emmerson Mnangagwa administration is once again trumpeting a supposed infrastructure milestone — this time the so-called Mabvuku Interchange — in what critics have dubbed yet another “Trabablas” project, a sarcastic nod to grand but misaligned priorities and questionable planning.
Transport Minister Felix Mhona, addressing a Post Cabinet Briefing in Harare on Tuesday, claimed that construction at the interchange was already underway and promised that “traffic will be diverted to detour roads within the next two months.” He further explained that the interchange is set to create a link between the Eastern Highlands, Harare’s CBD, Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, and Chitungwiza.
However, many Zimbabweans remain unconvinced and weary of the government’s obsession with flashy interchange projects while basic road safety, maintenance, and accident prevention remain glaringly unaddressed. This announcement comes at a time when the country is still mourning the loss of dozens of lives from recent horrific road accidents — many attributed to poor road conditions, nonexistent signage, and general infrastructural neglect.
Instead of tackling these root causes of carnage on Zimbabwe’s roads, the government appears focused on symbolic projects with questionable immediate utility. The “Trabablas” nickname — a term mocking projects that are more propaganda tools than genuine public service — has gained traction as citizens point out the glaring mismatch between public relations exercises and day-to-day realities.
Motorists in Mabvuku and nearby suburbs are already bracing for chaos, with detour roads expected to worsen congestion and expose the lack of long-term urban planning.
Previous interchange projects, such as the Mbudzi Interchange, have drawn fierce criticism for displacing residents and informal traders with minimal compensation and poor execution timelines.
As the economy continues to struggle, and with service delivery in free fall, many are questioning whether this is the right time — or the right priority — for another multi-million-dollar interchange while ambulances run without fuel, hospitals lack bandages, and potholes in suburban roads resemble open trenches
Source: Zimeye
