Bulawayo – A photograph of a bus stranded on a severely degraded, muddy road has sparked a fierce online debate about the true state of the highway leading to Zimbabwe’s premier tourist destination, Victoria Falls.
The image was posted by Harare West Member of Parliament, Joanah Mamombe, on the evening of November 17, 2025.
The MP’s post, which was captioned “The road to Zimbabwe’s prime Tourism destination, the Victoria Falls,” quickly amassed thousands of views and reactions, polarising public opinion.
The viral picture shows a passenger bus stuck deep in the rutted track, raising serious questions about the progress of a critical government infrastructure project.
The online controversy quickly centred on a single question: is the pictured route the main Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Highway or a temporary detour?
One user, Mabweadziva, defended the situation, stating,
“This is a detour. A detour is a temporary route used when the usual road is blocked often because of road construction. It is not unusual for vehicles to get stuck in a detour if unexpected conditions arise. This can happen in both developed and developing areas.”
However, this explanation was met with immediate and sharp contradiction from other users claiming first-hand experience. A commentator named AYOBA GURU provided a starkly different account, writing,
“Those saying its a Detour are the worst useless booty licking bastard , used that road yesterday ,only 17km has been revamped so far , the Detours are even far much better than main road ,its a mess everywhere.”
The debate grew more heated, with some users employing vernacular language to describe the road’s poor condition, while others drew historical comparisons to its state in previous decades.
This is not the first time a viral image has caused a stir over this specific roadway. In March 2025, a photo of three people posing inside a giant pothole, also alleged to be on the same highway, prompted an official denial from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development (MOTID). At that time, the Ministry acknowledged that some sections were in “dire need of rehabilitation” but insisted the viral pothole image was not from the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Highway.
The current official narrative, as reported by the national broadcaster on November 17, maintains that the road’s rehabilitation is “progressing well.” The Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Felix Mhona, recently outlined the government’s strategy, stating,
“I am happy that the strategy we adopted in the ministry was to divide the entire 440 kilometres… This rehabilitation is crucial because the road is a gateway to the tourist hub of our country, Victoria Falls.”
The government affirms that the project remains a high priority, is fully funded by the Treasury, and is on track for completion by mid-2026.
The clash between the MP’s latest viral image and the consistent official narrative has left the public to discern the true condition of the vital road to Victoria Falls.
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