ROSA, CHIWESHE, ZIMBABWE — A section of the Rosa–Chiweshe highway has dramatically collapsed after days of heavy rains, prompting renewed outcry over Zimbabwe’s deteriorating road infrastructure and what experts describe as a glaring failure in engineering design and workmanship. The incident, captured in viral videos widely shared across social media platforms, has left residents stunned as they watched an entire section of the road lose its foundation and collapse into a fast-moving stream of floodwater below.
Footage from the scene shows villagers cautiously approaching the fractured highway, with the remaining asphalt layer hanging precariously over a gaping cavity. The tarmac—once supporting vehicles traveling between Rosa Business Centre and surrounding communities—now sits suspended like a thin, brittle shell with no supporting material underneath. Alarmed residents can be heard warning motorists to stop and avoid the route as more chunks of the weakened surface continue to crumble into the void.
A second location, whose exact coordinates are still being confirmed, appears to have suffered an almost identical structural failure. In that video, water is filmed rushing through the roadbed with startling ease, ripping away soil and gravel foundations that should have supported the surface. Engineers reviewing the footage say the pattern of collapse in both areas highlights the same problem: inadequate drainage and substandard construction practices.
Residents of Chiweshe, many of whom rely on the highway as their primary connection to schools, farms, clinics, and business centres, expressed anger and disbelief. Several villagers told ZimEye that the affected section had recently been resurfaced as part of ongoing rehabilitation works, yet it appeared to have been built without culverts or any proper stormwater diversion systems. “This road was built on powder,” one resident lamented. “They resurfaced the tar, but underneath there was nothing. They pocketed money meant for drainage.”
As news of the collapse spread, locals scrambled to redirect traffic away from the hazard. Transport toward Rosa Business Centre has been effectively cut off, forcing commuters to make long, risky detours along muddy footpaths and narrow bush roads. Commercial vehicles—which rely heavily on this corridor to move farm produce and supplies—have been left stranded or forced to turn back entirely.
Chivayo-Money Rosa–Chiweshe Road Fails, Collapses Beneath Traffic
While local authorities have yet to issue a formal statement, emergency teams were reportedly assessing the damage late Monday, with engineers expected to determine whether the remaining structure poses further danger. Early indications suggest that the collapse is more than just rainfall-related—it may be symptomatic of deeper systemic weaknesses affecting road construction projects across rural Zimbabwe.
Infrastructure experts warn that the Rosa–Chiweshe collapse is not an isolated incident, but rather part of a long-running pattern of infrastructure failure across the country. In recent years, several district and rural roads have suffered similar washouts following moderate rainfall, often revealing poorly compacted foundations, absent drainage systems, and contractors who cut corners to reduce costs.
A civil engineering specialist who reviewed the viral footage described the event as a classic case of subgrade erosion—a situation where the soil layer beneath the asphalt is gradually washed away due to improper water management. “This type of collapse happens when a road behaves like a dam wall,” the engineer said. “Instead of channeling water safely, the road blocks it. Pressure builds up, and because the foundation is weak or unprotected, the water simply carves its way through.”
The expert added that the video evidence suggests several critical failures in the road’s construction:
Absence of reinforced culverts
Lack of side drains or inadequate drainage channels
No erosion protection measures
Poor or incomplete compaction of the subgrade layers
“In proper civil engineering, no road—especially in a high-rainfall region—should be built without culverts to allow water to pass beneath the surface,” the engineer explained. “When stormwater is forced to find its own path, it will always undermine the structure.”
The collapse has reignited debate over the awarding of roadwork contracts, particularly to companies accused of lacking capacity or using substandard materials. In many rural areas, community members say they rarely see engineers supervising works, leaving contractors unchecked and accountable only on paper.
For residents of Chiweshe, the collapse has not only disrupted mobility but has reinforced fears about the broader state of public infrastructure. Many worry that other sections of the highway could fail if subjected to similar rainfall conditions. As the rainy season intensifies, villagers are urging authorities to act swiftly—not only to repair the damaged road but to overhaul drainage systems across the entire stretch.
With emergency assessments underway and pressure mounting on responsible agencies, affected communities are waiting anxiously for answers, clarity, and, most importantly, durable reconstruction. For now, the road remains impassable, standing as a stark reminder of the consequences of compromised engineering and neglected infrastructure.
