By Tadiwa Shunje
MASVINGO – The new Mucheke (Chevron) Bridge has reached 93 percent completion, but its opening date remains uncertain after authorities said there were delays in disbursement of funds and failed compaction tests.
Speaking during a media tour by deputy minister of information, publicity and broadcasting services Dr Omphile Marupi held recently in the city, the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) official and Masvingo Deputy Provincial Roads Engineer, Shadreck Kativhu concurred that funding for the works was delaying progress as well as the failed compaction tests which need corrections.
“The Mucheke (Chevron) river bridge is now 93 percent complete but there are other issues that are delaying the completion, the contractor is being paid by ZINARA and the Ministry of Finance. The other issue is that some tests did not pass as required and we have redone. Once there is a snag then we have to redo the work and corrections then proceed to the next ,” said Kativhu.
Authorities at the event said it was a matter of quality assurance with completion anticipated at the end of February 2026.
The disclosure comes against a backdrop of repeated delays on the project, which was initially expected to open in late 2025. Earlier government updates had projected completion between October and November 2025, after the bridge was reported to be about 60 percent complete by May 2025.
Despite those projections, the project spilled into 2026 without a firm opening date, fueling frustration among motorists and residents who rely on the crossing for access between Masvingo’s central business district and surrounding suburbs such as Mucheke and Rujeko.
In previous engagements, Kativhu had indicated that corrective works were still required, with tentative expectations that they could be addressed by mid-February, though no definite timeline was provided.
The continued absence of a confirmed opening date has intensified frustration in Masvingo, where the bridge is seen as a critical solution to congestion and safety challenges along the city’s main traffic route.
The Mucheke (Chevron) Bridge forms part of the Harare-Beitbridge Highway rehabilitation programme, one of Zimbabwe’s most critical transport corridors. Its delayed completion has continued to contribute to traffic congestion in the city.
With the bridge now close to completion but key technical issues remaining undisclosed, uncertainty persists over when the long-awaited structure will finally be opened to traffic.
