The Mbudzi ‘Trabablas' Traffic Interchange: A Comedy of Errors
In the latest episode of “How to Spend a Fortune on Absolutely Nothing,” Zimbabwe has outdone itself with the Mbudzi traffic interchange in Harare.
This humble project has managed to rack up a jaw-dropping bill of US$88 million. Yes, you read that right. Eighty-eight million dollars for a glorified roundabout.
Now, let's put this into perspective. Down south in Durban, South Africa, they built the Mount Edgecombe Interchange for a mere US$65.9 million (R1.14 billion).
And what did they get for their money? Oh, just the largest and most sophisticated interchange in the southern hemisphere. No big deal.
This engineering marvel boasts a four-level design, 23 piers, a 948-meter-long bridge, and connects major road networks like a pro. It's basically the Beyoncé of interchanges.
Directors Linked to Mbudzi ‘Trabablas' Interchange Looting
Meanwhile, back in Harare, the Mbudzi nicknamed Trabablas interchange is more like a garage band trying to cover a Queen song.
The Mbudzi ‘Trabablas' Traffic Interchange: A Comedy of Errors
It's basic, it's rudimentary, and it costs more than a small country's GDP. The difference in price between these two projects is a staggering US$22 million.
That's enough to buy a fleet of luxury cars, a private island, or, you know, actually improve public infrastructure.
So, what's going on here? Are Zimbabwean construction materials made of gold? Are the workers being paid in diamonds? Or is there something more sinister at play?
The general consensus among Zimbabweans is that the Mbudzi project's price tag is as inflated as a politician's ego, with corruption and inefficiency driving costs through the roof.
It's a classic case of “how not to manage public funds.”
While South Africa gets a sleek, efficient interchange that looks like it belongs in a sci-fi movie, Zimbabwe gets a pricey piece of tarmac that wouldn't look out of place in a 1980s road safety video.
In conclusion, the Mbudzi ‘Trabablas' traffic interchange is a perfect example of how to turn a simple project into a national joke.
