Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Felix Mhona says Government is accelerating the installation of weighbridges on major highways to protect newly rehabilitated roads, amid mounting warnings from contractors that overloaded haulage trucks are undermining upgrades on the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Road.
Speaking during Tuesday's post-Cabinet briefing in Harare, Minister Mhona said weighbridge facilities are being prioritised to curb excessive loading by transporters, which has emerged as a major threat to road durability.
“The mitigatory measures that we are taking as a Ministry is to attend to the issues of putting up weighbridges at strategic sites, and I am happy that through ZINARA this is an initiative that we are running with. As I speak, we have flighted a tender for this,” he said.
Contractors upgrading the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls highway have raised alarm over the continued movement of trucks — particularly coal haulage vehicles from Hwange — which they say are running overweight and damaging sections that have already been rehabilitated.
Masimba Contractors and Fossil Contracting, two companies working on different parts of the 440km highway, reported that overloaded trucks are causing more structural damage than weather effects or technical challenges during construction.
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A representative from Masimba Contractors said weighbridges were now urgently required to safeguard the investment.
“Weighbridges should be installed. This road will not last if you don’t do that intervention. The trucks are really killing this road,” the official said, noting that some vehicles were reportedly carrying up to 50 tonnes, far above the legal 30-tonne limit.
“Once they know there are no controls, they overload. Then the road fails and people say contractors did a bad job,” the official added.
Fossil Contracting echoed the concern during an inspection of its section, saying persistent overloading is accelerating deterioration and must be addressed to protect the newly laid surfaces.
Road engineers warn that overweight trucks cause rapid rutting, cracking and base failures, reducing the lifespan of rehabilitated roads by several years and increasing maintenance costs.
Transport Ministry Permanent Secretary Joy Makumbe said enforcement will be critical and urged transporters to comply even before weighbridge systems are fully operational.
“We should not wait for the Vehicle Inspection Department only. Let’s be responsible citizens,” she said.
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