Mnangagwa’s namesake ‘Trabablas’ interchange tainted by fatal crane accident

Weeks after the Mbudzi Interchange was renamed Trabablas, President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s wartime nickname, a devastating crane collapse resulted in the death of a worker at the construction site.

The incident occurred on January 6, 2025, during the dismantling of a static tower crane by Manzlink, a contracted rigging specialist firm.

According to Tefoma Construction, the consortium behind the project, the mechanical failure led to the collapse of both the static tower crane and the mobile crane being used for the de-erection process. The deceased was an employee of Manzlink.

Tefoma Construction has expressed its condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased. The company has also assured that a full investigation into the incident is currently underway, in cooperation with relevant authorities.

“The deceased was an employee of Manzlink, the specialist subcontracted company at the site. In cooperation with relevant authorities, a full investigation into the incident is currently underway,” Tefoma stated.

“Tefoma has offered its full support and is working closely with Manzlink, the employer, and the deceased’s family during this difficult time.

“The board of directors and management team remain committed to maintaining the highest safety standards across all our project sites.

“Further announcements will be made in due course.”

Upon completion, the Trabablas Interchange project, valued at US$88 million, is anticipated to significantly reduce congestion and enhance road safety.

A consortium comprising local and international companies is spearheading the construction efforts, which commenced in 2022.

In November last year, authorities said 80% of the work was now complete.

Recently, Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Felix Mhona indicated that the interchange was slated for commissioning in early 2025.