By Staff ReporterMASVINGO – Masvingo’s long awaited Trumpet Interchange near Masvingo Polytechnic is set to open to traffic by the end of December 2026, bringing to the city its own version of the famous Trabablas Interchange in Harare, provincial officials have confirmed.
The development was revealed during a media tour organised by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services, which was attended by Information Minister Soda Zhemu, Permanent Secretary Nicky Mangwana, and other ministry officials.
The tour also took delegates to other key infrastructure projects in the province, including the Mutirikwi Hydro Power Station, Bikita Minerals, and the newly completed Great Zimbabwe Monuments Visitors Entrance.
Speaking at the interchange site, Masvingo Provincial Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Dr Addmore Pazvakavambwa, said the main bridges were already completed, and work was progressing on the Chimusana bridges.
“The projection is that by 31 December 2026, this will be done. The contractors have promised us that this will be completed. Already the Mucheke Bridge, which was a major bottleneck, has been completed, easing congestion in the area,” said Dr Pazvakavambwa.
Director of Infrastructure, Planning and Environmental Management in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Douglas Chimhande, revealed that the interchange will be a threelegged structure feeding into a new roundabout.
“There are two bridges that were constructed at Mucheke River, and two more are being constructed upstream. An interchange here will become a game changer as traffic will be diverted, one flow using the top lanes and the other using the bottom lanes, feeding into the new roundabout,” said Chimhande.
He added that the current temporary roundabout at the main bridge will be removed once the interchange is complete.
“There will be a dual carriageway passing through the bridge, and roadworks are happening there. That will pass through this interchange. Once the interchange is completed, the temporary roundabout will be removed,” said Chimhande.
The Trumpet Interchange is part of a broader infrastructure upgrade aimed at modernising Masvingo’s road network and improving traffic flow, particularly for heavy vehicles travelling along the busy BeitbridgeMasvingoHarare corridor.
The new interchange is expected to significantly reduce travel times and enhance road safety by eliminating the dangerous intersections that have long been a source of accidents in the area.
Motorists and residents have welcomed the development, expressing hope that the project will ease the congestion that has plagued the city for years, particularly during peak hours and holiday periods.
The delegation also toured the Mutirikwi Hydro Power Station, where Dr Pazvakavambwa revealed plans to construct two more power plants downstream of the river.
The expansion is part of the government’s efforts to increase the country’s renewable energy capacity and reduce reliance on the national grid.At Bikita Minerals, the delegation observed the mining operations and discussed the company’s role in the province’s economic development.
The tour also included a visit to the Great Zimbabwe Monuments Visitors Entrance, which was completed within just ten months, with works having started in July 2025.
