Story by Lovemore Masunungure
The drive by the Second Republic to upgrade Zimbabwe’s road infrastructure, as well as the upgrading of the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, has been cited as one of the key factors enabling the growth of tourist numbers who visited Zimbabwe last year.
In a report by the highly respected Travel and Tourism World, Zimbabwe was named the biggest source market for tourists visiting South Africa last year.
While the government has taken note of the contribution of road and air infrastructure development to the increase in Zimbabweans visiting South Africa, it remains focused on continuing its massive road infrastructure development projects to increase and improve the convinience of travellers within Zimbabwe.
The Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Hon Felix Mhona, reacting to the report by the TTW, said the endorsement in the report will spur them to continue working to improve transport infrastructure across the country.
“As much as we acknowledge a boom in tourism in South Africa, we want this boom at home as well, and therefore we will focus on the rehabilitation of the Harare-Chirundu Road. Works on this will connect the region through the North-South Corridor.
“Our efforts as the Ministry are to ensure that we remain a key enabler in the various sectors of our economy – tourism, agriculture, mining, manufacturing, etc., as we know that good transport infrastructure is integral to all these sectors,” said Hon Mhona.
According to South African media, Travel and Tour World reported that in 2025, Zimbabwe overtook Namibia, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, and numerous other African countries in driving South Africa’s tourism boom, due to a combination of strong regional ties, increased air and road travel, and the growing desire of Zimbabwean travelers to experience South Africa’s cultural, natural, and urban attractions.
This surge in visitors from Zimbabwe, along with continued growth from other African nations, has significantly contributed to the record-breaking increases in South Africa’s international tourist arrivals, reflecting the broader momentum of tourism recovery across the continent.
South Africa’s tourism sector has experienced a remarkable recovery in 2025, with international visitors arrivals surging beyond expectations, driven by robust growth from regional markets, especially within Africa.
“The country’s tourism boom in 2025 marks a pivotal moment in its post-pandemic recovery, with neighboring countries and select overseas markets significantly contributing to the surge in arrivals.
Leading the charge in driving these numbers higher, is Zimbabwe, which has overtaken several African nations, becoming one of the largest sources of tourism growth for South Africa in 2025,” reads an article in the South African media.
This development comes after Zimbabwe’s aviation industry is experiencing a strong resurgence, demonstrated by heavy infrastructure investments, expanding airline connectivity and renewed aviation diplomacy.
This has positioned the industry as a key enabler of tourism growth and broader economic recovery.
At the centre of the aviation industry’s resurgence was the completion of the US$153 million upgrade of the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in 2023, one of the country’s largest aviation infrastructure projects in recent years.
The modernisation expanded annual passenger handling capacity to about six million, introduced a new VVIP Pavilion and refurbished the domestic terminal.
As a result, passenger traffic rose by about 8,19 percent in the first three quarters of 2025, reflecting improved demand and confidence in air travel.
The infrastructure drive has been strengthened by critical systems upgrades aimed at improving safety and efficiency.
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development commissioned a new Air Traffic Control communication system and a Secondary Surveillance Radar, strengthening Zimbabwe’s air navigation capabilities and aligning them with international standards.
Zimbabwe also intensified its infrastructure development drive last year, undertaking large-scale projects across the country as part of Government’s broader push to attain a prosperous and empowered upper middle-income society in the next four years.
Central to this transformation has been sustained investment in road rehabilitation and modernisation under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme 2 (ERRP2), alongside flagship infrastructure projects that are reshaping the country’s transport network, easing congestion and improving regional trade connectivity.
Rehabilitation works are also progressing on the Harare–Chirundu Highway, which links Zimbabwe to Zambia and serves as a vital gateway to the northern SADC corridor.
The route is critical for cross-border trade, regional intergration and the transport of agricultural and mining exports.
Similarly, the Beitbridge–Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Highway is being upgraded to support freight movement and tourism, connecting South Africa to Zimbabwe’s prime tourist destinations and export routes in the north-west.
Good road infrastructure along this corridor is essential for reducing transit times, lowering transport costs and enhancing Zimbabwe’s competitiveness as a regional logistics hub.
In urban infrastructure development, Government last year commissioned the multi-million-dollar Trabablas Traffic Interchange in Harare, located at the intersection of Simon Mazorodze, Chitungwiza and High Glen roads.
The project, comprising 15 bridges, has transformed traffic flow, reduced congestion and accidents and improved connectivity along the north–south corridor.
It also enhances regional trade linkages, given Zimbabwe’s position as a transit country between South Africa and the rest of the region.
Thevhayeya.com to the world 🌎
