Trabablas Interchange: Zimbabwe Opens First-Ever Multi-Level Interchange

After nearly three years of detours, delays, and logistical headaches for transporters and motorists alike, Zimbabwe has officially opened its first-ever multi-level highway interchange — the Trabablas Interchange, formerly known as the Mbudzi Roundabout.

Commissioned by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday, 30 May 2025, the massive US$88 million structure sits at the junction of three key roads: Simon Mazorodze, Chitungwiza, and High Glen — all vital arteries for traffic flowing into and out of Harare.

For years, the old Mbudzi Roundabout had been a notorious bottleneck, especially for long-haul truckers using the North-South Corridor connecting South Africa to Zimbabwe and beyond. Congestion, frequent accidents, and travel delays made the area a nightmare. With the new interchange now operational, those days appear to be over.

The newly named Trabablas Interchange, a nod to President Mnangagwa’s liberation war alias, is a landmark achievement not just for Zimbabwe but for southern Africa. It’s the first structure of its kind in the country, featuring 15 bridges, including a modern flyover, expanded lanes, and dedicated pedestrian walkways. Thirteen bridges form part of the main traffic system, with two more on the adjoining Amalinda and Harare Drives.

Built entirely by local firms, Tensor Systems, Fossil Contracting, and Masimba Construction, the project was fully funded by Zimbabwe without any external loans or donor backing.

For regional transporters, especially cross-border truckers moving freight between the Port of Durban and inland markets like Harare and Lusaka, the new interchange is a game-changer.

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“This is huge for the industry,” said one Durban-based haulier. “The delays at Mbudzi cost us hours, sometimes more. Now, with this flyover, transit times will improve, and fuel costs will drop.”

The Trabablas Interchange is expected to ease congestion, boost road safety, and improve traffic flow for thousands of vehicles daily, many of them heavy-duty trucks hauling goods across southern Africa.

For Zimbabwe, it’s a bold step forward in upgrading its road infrastructure and a clear signal that the country is serious about modernising its transport corridors.