Zimbabwe’s president Emmerson Mnangagwa (photo) inaugurates the Harare-Chivhu-Masvingo-Beintbridge axis, the backbone that should link his country to South Africa.

According to Kazembe Kazembe, Zimbabwe's IT minister, this step is crucial because of the country's position as an IT hub in Southern Africa. It completes the project aimed at linking Zimbabwe to neighbouring countries via optical fiber.

The minister indicates that a large part of the country is already covered by kilometres of optical fiber that will boost its communication capacities. The Harare-Chivhu-Masvingo-Beintbridge backbone complements the Beitbridge-Bulawayo-Victoria Fallaxis, which is already operational, as well as the Gweru-Bulawayo-Plumtree axis (already completed) and the Harare-Mutare-Forbes Border Post backbone.  

Kazembe Kazembe explains that the $98 million project will provide lower-cost broadband internet access, increase download rate and simultaneous calls management capacity.

Overall, thousands of residents who were having communication problems can now experience broadband internet.