Government to Target Mining Trucks with New Weighbridges to Save Roads

Harare - Mkoba South Member of Parliament, Honourable John Kuka has pressed the government to accelerate the rehabilitation of the Matobo-Gweru Road, warning that the vital mineral and agricultural artery is deteriorating under the weight of heavy mining traffic and urban congestion.

During a Parliamentary session on Wednesday, February 11, Hon. Kuka, challenged the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development to provide a definitive timeline for the 84-kilometre road, which connects Gweru and Silobela.

Hon. John Kuka

Responding to the inquiry, Transport Minister Felix Mhona acknowledged the poor state of the route, which consists of a narrow 38.4km tarred section and 45.8km of gravel.

"Currently, sections on the road are in deteriorated condition due to prolonged usage, limited maintenance interventions and increasing traffic volumes, particularly from heavy mining and commercial vehicles," Minister Mhona told the House.

He confirmed the road has been earmarked for the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme 2 (ERRP2), a national initiative recently extended by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to 2026.

Under the plan, the Minister said, the narrow bituminous section will be widened to standard carriageway specifications, while the gravel section requires full re-gravelling to restore structural integrity.

Transport Minister, Hon. Felix Mhona

Hon. Kuka argued that the pace of the ERRP2 risked falling behind the rapid delamination of the road surface.

He highlighted a specific bottleneck at the Gweru roundabout (traffic circle) near Mutapa Cemetery, where farmers and miners accessing the market face crippling delays.

"The road is not accessible because of congestion," Hon. Kuka stated. "The question is, what are the government plans so that we alleviate challenges like accidents that happen as a result of congestion? Looking at the Trabablas project, this can be replicated in Gweru," he asked.

The "Trabablas project" refers to the US$88 million multi-level interchange recently completed at the former Mbudzi Roundabout in Harare, designed to eliminate traffic gridlock at major intersections.

Minister Mhona deflected some of the pressure back onto the legislature, reminding Members of Parliament that the speed of such mega-projects depends entirely on the national budget.

"I am clear that this august house is empowered with budgeting. So, Parliament has the onus to provide funding for road rehabilitation and as a nation, we need to budget for road rehabilitation," Minister Mhona retorted.

The debate shifted to the accountability of private players when Warren Park Legislator, Hon. Shakespear Hamauswa, questioned why mining companies, whose heavy ore-carrying trucks are primary contributors to road damage, are not legally mandated to fund repairs.

Minister Mhona noted that while the government is currently restricted to requesting corporate social responsibility from these firms, new enforcement measures are coming.

"We are identifying strategic sites where we are going to enact weighbridges, particularly targeting mining companies that carry mineral ore," the Minister said.

"If they are carrying large weights that exceed the limits, then there are going to be fines," he said.

For now, the Ministry will proceed with routine maintenance, including bush clearing to improve visibility and grading of the gravel sections to ensure all-weather accessibility while the larger ERRP2 works are tendered, the Minister said.