A shadow of grief has fallen over the construction of Harare’s ambitious Trabablas Interchange, formerly known as the Mbudzi Roundabout, following a fatal crane collapse on Monday, 6 January 2025. The accident, which claimed the life of a construction worker, has highlighted persistent safety concerns within Zimbabwe’s construction sector.
The deceased, an employee of Manzlink (Pvt) Ltd, a subcontracted rigging specialist firm working on the US$88 million project, perished at the scene. Manzlink was contracted by Tefoma Construction (Pvt) Ltd, the main contractor for the interchange, which is set to be renamed Trabablas Interchange upon completion, in honour of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s wartime moniker.
According to Tefoma, the accident occurred during the dismantling of a static tower crane. A mechanical failure, they explained, caused the collapse of both the static tower crane and a mobile crane involved in the dismantling process.
In a statement, Tefoma expressed deep sorrow: “Tefoma Construction (Pvt) Ltd (Tefoma) regrets to report a fatal injury following a mechanical failure during crane de-erection operations at the Trabablas Interchange project site on 6 January 2025. The board of directors and management extend their sincere condolences to the deceased’s family, friends, and colleagues.”
The statement continued, detailing the events: “The incident occurred during the dismantling of a static tower crane by Manzlink (Pvt) Ltd (Manzlink), our contracted rigging specialist firm. The mechanical failure resulted in 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, the specialist subcontracted company at the site. In cooperation with relevant authorities, a full investigation into the incident is currently underway. 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.”
Tefoma pledged full cooperation with authorities conducting the ongoing investigation into the cause of the mechanical failure. The company also reaffirmed its commitment to safety standards: “The board of directors and management team remain committed to maintaining the highest safety standards across all our project sites.” Beyond the formal statement, Tefoma offered its support to the deceased’s family and Manzlink during this difficult time.
This tragic incident underscores the ongoing challenges related to workplace safety in Zimbabwe’s construction industry. Fatal accidents remain a recurring concern, demanding a renewed focus on preventative measures and stricter enforcement of safety regulations. The identity of the deceased has not yet been publicly released, pending notification of next of kin.
The scale of the Trabablas Interchange project, with its significant cost and symbolic importance, amplifies the impact of this tragedy. The incident has undoubtedly raised questions about the safety protocols in place at the site and the effectiveness of oversight mechanisms.
