MBUDZI INTERCHANGE IS A MONUMENT TO LOOTING, NOT DEVELOPMENT

The Mbudzi Traffic Interchange in Harare should have been a symbol of progress. Instead, it stands as yet another monument to Zimbabwe’s corruption, incompetence, and failed leadership. With a shocking price tag of US$88 million, this project has become a clear example of how public funds are misused while ordinary Zimbabweans continue to suffer.

When compared to South Africa’s Mount Edgecombe Interchange in Durban, the scam becomes even more obvious. The Mount Edgecombe project is bigger, more advanced, and far more complex. It has 23 piers, a 948-meter bridge, and connects major roads across a busy economic zone. Yet, it cost only US$65.9 million. That’s over US$22 million less than the simpler and smaller Mbudzi Interchange. So why is Zimbabwe paying more for less?

The answer is simple: corruption.

In Zimbabwe, public projects are not about serving the people. They are about serving those in power. The Mbudzi project was awarded without transparency. The contractors were handpicked, not based on merit, but because of their political connections. These companies are known for inflating costs and delivering poor-quality work. They are part of a cartel of cronies who profit while the nation bleeds.

Every dollar overcharged in this project is stolen from the people. It’s a hidden tax on citizens who already face rising prices, joblessness, and crumbling services. Roads remain unmaintained, hospitals lack medicine, and schools fall apart — yet US$88 million is being spent on a basic road interchange.

Worse still, those in charge of monitoring this project are silent. Government officials who should protect public money are either turning a blind eye or actively participating in the looting. There is no accountability, no explanation, and no shame. It’s business as usual in Zimbabwe — corrupt deals sealed behind closed doors while the public pays the price.

The Mount Edgecombe project in South Africa proves that proper infrastructure can be delivered at a fair cost. It shows what’s possible when there is transparency, planning, and genuine commitment to development. Zimbabwe’s Mbudzi project, on the other hand, exposes the rot within our system.

This is not just about roads. It’s about the kind of country we are building. Are we a nation that rewards thieves and punishes the poor? Are we a people who watch silently as our resources are looted, project after project, year after year?

The US$88 million Mbudzi Interchange is a slap in the face to every Zimbabwean. It is a reminder that corruption is alive and well — and that those who are supposed to lead are instead stealing. Projects like this should bring hope, not anger. They should improve lives, not rob futures.

Zimbabweans must wake up. We must demand audits, investigations, and consequences. This is not just about one interchange. It is about a system that is broken and bleeding. It is about decades of bad governance that continue to hold the country hostage. Until we say enough is enough, this cycle will continue.

The real cost of corruption is not just in dollars. It’s in the roads that are never fixed, the hospitals that never open, and the dreams that die every day. The Mbudzi Interchange should have been a bridge to the future. Instead, it is a symbol of betrayal.

Zimbabwe deserves better. And it starts with demanding justice.