Mthuli Reveals Trabablas Interchange Cost $114 Million

Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube has revealed that the much-talked-about Trabablas Interchange, constructed along the Harare-Masvingo Highway to ease congestion into the capital, cost a total of USD114 million—far higher than initially assumed.

Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Ncube said the funding model was a hybrid of government resources and contractor-backed loans.

He disclosed that Zimbabwe paid a USD26 million deposit using its Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) allocation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which was necessary to unlock a broader USD88 million loan facility arranged with a consortium of contractors.

“Hon. Bajila has asked a very important question,” Ncube said.

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“The cost of the Trabablas Interchange was driven by our initial loan arrangement of the order of USD88 million, which was provided by the Consortium of Contractors.

“We were required to pay a deposit of USD26 million from the SDRs to access that loan. So yes, the total cost stands at USD114 million.”

The figure stunned some lawmakers, who questioned the prudence of pouring such a significant sum into a single interchange at a time when the country is facing deep fiscal constraints and urgent social service needs.

But Ncube was adamant that the project offered good value for money.

“I think it is fair to say that the product that you see at Trabablas is a world-class product. It is money well spent. It took time, but here we are with a world-class piece of infrastructure,” he said.

He called on the National Assembly to support similar infrastructure projects elsewhere.

“It would be advisable for this House to support the Government to replicate this quality infrastructure in other parts of Harare where it is needed, but also in other cities across the country,” Ncube added.