The Boterekwa Pass, a 6km winding mountain stretch leading into Shurugwi, has become notorious for armed robberies, with criminals targeting motorists whose vehicles have broken down at night.
Due to the steep and challenging nature of the road, heavy trucks struggle daily to navigate the ascent, often crawling at a slow pace. Some trucks lose their brakes, leading to devastating crashes, including fatal accidents where haulage trucks jackknife.
Armed robbers are exploiting these situations, preying on stranded drivers and those involved in accidents. These criminals patrol the area at night, approaching motorists and threatening them with knives and guns to steal valuables and ransack their vehicles.
Romeo Shangwa, the Shurugwi District Development Coordinator, confirmed to <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/boterekwa-stretch-a-haven-for-armed-robbers/">The Herald</a> that the pass has recently become a prime target for armed robbers, turning it into a dangerous hotspot for criminal activity. Said Shangwa:
<blockquote>
We have had some worrisome reports along the Boterekwa Pass of late, with armed robbers patrolling the area and robbing truck drivers who are in their broken-down trucks. They also ransack trucks and loot goods.
</blockquote>
Shangwa recalled a particularly distressing incident involving a motorist whose truck became stranded on the pass. He said:
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The robbers were reportedly armed with guns and robbed their victim before forcing him to do some push-ups.
</blockquote>
Runesu Mbalekwa, a truck driver who was robbed on November 3, said the robbers took all the cash he had on him. He said:
<blockquote>
I was on my way to Chirundu from Johannesburg when I got stuck at Boterekwa. When I reported the fault back in South Africa, I remained at the scene.
At midnight, I was awakened by a harsh knock on the driver’s door, only to realize I was being robbed.
They took all the cash I had and ransacked my truck, leaving me stranded.
</blockquote>
Local villager Aron Marufu, who lives at the foot of Boterekwa mountain, said:
<blockquote>
My homestead is at the foot of Boterekwa Mountain, and if accidents occur, we are the first to hear and witness them.
Of late, we have been hearing gunshots, with robbers now patrolling the area before robbing motorists.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

The Boterekwa Pass near Shurugwi is now a dangerous place for motorists because armed robbers are targeting stranded drivers and those involved in accidents. The steep road is difficult for trucks to navigate, leading to breakdowns and accidents. Criminals use this opportunity to steal from drivers, threatening them with weapons. Many incidents have been reported, with drivers being robbed of their valuables and even forced to do push-ups. Local villagers are also hearing gunshots in the area. The pass has become a hotspot for criminal activity, making it unsafe for travelers.

Shurugwi’s Boterekwa Pass Now A Robbery Zone For Stranded Motorists

Mining activities in and around the Boterekwa area in Midlands Province have caused significant damage to one of Zimbabwe’s most iconic and scenic roads, putting the safety of motorists and travellers at risk.
Chinese-owned companies, accused of ignoring environmental laws, alongside small-scale miners (known as makorokoza), have been digging beneath the road and blasting the mountain range.
The area has been further compromised by trucks hauling heavy loads of gold ore and soil, alongside other illegal mining activities.
Potholes and dangerous ditches have formed, and images of the damage have circulated on social media, drawing attention to the urgent situation.
In response, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development announced on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday that work to repair the damaged road would begin soon. It said:
<blockquote>
Illegal mining activities are causing damage to our road infrastructure!
Currently, the Shurugwi-Zvishavane Road (Boterekwa area) is affected. The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development is working to repair the road by tomorrow.
Let’s work together to preserve our roads and prevent accidents! Be wary of illegal mining activities and report any incidents to the authorities.
</blockquote>
However, X users blamed ZANU PF and Chinese miners for flagrantly violating environmental laws and causing damage to the road.
The last king of CHIVI wrote: “Let’s stop pretending that we don’t know who are destroying our environment and now roads, in china they conserve every inch of their country. The way they’re damaging Boterekwa shows how much hate they have for us and our country”.
Lancie Sekos said: “Half-hearted.. tepid statement.. we all know who is causing this damage to the roads but of course, you wouldn’t dare touch on that. Boterekwa as we knew it is no more.. we have the Chinese (who would never do this in their own country lest they face the firing squad) &amp; Zanu thugs.”
Erikana Mbedzi said: “That area is under a Chinese company called Chengxi. Why are you not arresting them for environmental degradation and damage to infrastructure? Munovatyaka maChina. The only foreigners whose arrest has to be okayed by Vene”.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Mining activities in the Boterekwa area in Zimbabwe have damaged a beautiful road, making it dangerous for drivers. Chinese-owned companies and small-scale miners have been digging underground and blasting the mountains, causing potholes and ditches. Trucks carrying heavy loads have made the situation worse. The Ministry of Transport announced they will fix the road soon. People on social media blamed Chinese miners and the government for not following environmental laws. They said the Chinese companies are damaging the road and should be arrested.

Mining Activities Damage Scenic Boterekwa Road, Endangering Motorists

The Government has cancelled contracts for six local contractors who failed to fulfil their contractual obligations in Midlands Province.
Midlands provincial roads engineer, Denis Mupfurira said the six local contractors failed to do road rehabilitation works.
The road works include rehabilitation and construction; reseals re-gravelling; spot re-gravelling; grading; drainage structures repair and construction; wash-away and gulley reclamation; erosion works and drains; verge clearing; and pothole patching.
Mupfurira said he could not disclose the names of the companies in question because of contractual obligations.
He, however, named one of the contractors, Transit Homes Contractors, who allegedly failed to avail a design for the planned US$7 million Boterekwa Escarpment road dualisation project.
The dualisation is to be done on an 8-kilometre descent on the Boterekwa escarpment (the Wolfshall Pass) along the Shurugwi road.
The work was supposed to start in June last year but only signage from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development indicating the name of the project has been erected on the site.
Mupfurira said in future, companies that fail to meet their contractual agreements will be blacklisted. He said:
<blockquote>
Government has cancelled six local contractors who have failed to deliver under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme phase two (ERRP 2) in the Midlands Province.
These include Transit Homes Contractors that allegedly failed to come up with a design for the project for the planned US$7 million Boterekwa escarpment road dualisation project.
The others I can’t name because of contractual obligations. Some are fighting the decision to cancel them.
In the Midlands Province, there are scores of local contractors who tendered for projects under ERRP 2 and a lot are now failing to start or complete the projects because some undercharged or failed to come up with proper budgets just to get the tenders from Government.
Now the reality is setting in and they have no funds to start or complete the projects.
</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/government-terminates-six-road-contracts/">Chronicle</a></h4>

Government Cancels Six Road Contracts

A driver delivering Pepsi soft drinks to Shurugwi was killed in a road traffic accident on Friday morning, Masvingo Mirror reports.
The now-deceased driver, Simbarashe Chiya (39) died when he lost control of his truck which overturned at Boterekwa Escarpment in Shurugwi and landed on its roof around 6:30 AM today.
Thousands of bottle drinks were strewn all over the place and villagers collected as much as they could after the owner of the truck Owen Mudzimba allegedly gave them the green light to take them.
The accident happened at a black spot infamously referred to as “pabutcher”.
Mudzimba is from Malbereign Harare while the driver is from Kuwadzana.
<h4>More: <a href="https://masvingomirror.com/pepsi-cola-truck-overturns-at-botorekwa-kills-driver/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Masvingo Mirror</a></h4>

Pepsi Truck Overturns At Boterekwa In Shurugwi, Kills Driver

2 people, a bus driver and a student were injured when the bus that was ferrying Pakame High School Students rammed into a haulage truck at Boterekwa Hills in Shurugwi, The Herald reports.
The accident reportedly occurred around 1 PM yesterday and it was confirmed by Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi who said:
<blockquote>The accident occurred around 1pm today (yesterday) at Boterekwa in Shurugwi. The Inter Africa bus was following behind a truck and its brakes failed. The bus then smashed at the back of the truck, resulting in two people the driver and a student being injured.
Drivers should always be cautious, especially when driving on the roads like the one at Boterekwa. There is need for caution</blockquote>
The bus driver reportedly suffered a fractured left knee while the student has a minor knee injury. Schools have opened today for the writing classes and the rest of the students are expected to start on Monday next week.
More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/2-injured-in-school-bus-crash-2/">The Herald </a>

Driver, Student Injured In The Boterekwa School Bus Accident

Illegal gold panning activities have severely damaged the road along Fernie Creek Pass (Boterekwa escarpment) near Shurugwi, in the Midlands Province.
The road is on the verge of collapse after illegal gold panners in the area dug a 15-metre-deep and seven-metre-wide cross-cutting tunnel underneath the road resulting in part of the highway caving in.
The damage to the road is posing a threat to motorists travelling between Zvishavane and Gweru and haulage trucks travelling to Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania through Gweru from South Africa.
According to the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) Midlands provincial manager Benson Bhasera, this is the second time that the road has been damaged by gold panners since 2011.
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Ndavaningi Nick Mangwana said work had started to rehabilitate the road.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/illegal-mining-activities-threaten-boterekwa/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sunday News</a></h4>

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