The A5 Highway is a national road in Zimbabwe. It joins the cities of Harare and Bulawayo, and is hence known as the Harare–Bulawayo Highway. It is one of the two routes that form the R2 Route, which connects Harare with the Plumtree Border with Botswana. The road has a total length of approximately 439 kilometres (273 mi).
Route
The A5 begins in Harare as an extension of Samora Machel Avenue (west), starting at the T-junction with Mutley Bend road near the China City parkade. From Harare, the road runs westward through the towns of Norton, Chegutu, Kadoma, Kwekwe, and Gweru before terminating in Bulawayo. In Bulawayo, the A5 is called First Avenue at its intersection with Samuel Parirenyatwa Street.
Major settlements along the route
| Settlement | Class | Province |
|---|---|---|
| Harare | City (National Capital) | Harare Province |
| Chegutu | Town | Mashonaland West |
| Kadoma | City | Mashonaland West |
| Kwekwe | City | Midlands Province |
| Gweru | City (Provincial Capital) | Midlands |
| Bulawayo | City (Provincial Capital) | Bulawayo Province |
Distances between major points
| Route Segment | Distance (km) |
|---|---|
| Harare – Chegutu | 106 |
| Harare – Kadoma | 141 |
| Harare – Kwekwe | 213 |
| Harare – Gweru | 275 |
| Harare – Bulawayo | 439 |
| Chegutu – Kadoma | 35 |
| Kadoma – Kwekwe | 72 |
| Kwekwe – Gweru | 62 |
| Gweru – Bulawayo | 164 |
Notable features
The A5 contains a 35.7-kilometre (22 mi) straight section between Chegutu and Kadoma, which is the longest straight stretch of road on the African continent. This section is sometimes referred to as the "Iron Arrow."
Toll plazas
The A5 Highway is not a toll-free road. There are five toll plazas along the highway: Norton, Kadoma, Gweru North, Treetops (Gweru South), and Ntabazinduna. Toll fees (in US dollars) range from $0 for motorcycles to $10 for heavy motor vehicles.
Feeder roads
Several important national and secondary highways connect to the A5, including:
- Ngezi–Selous Road (Platinum Highway) – a 77 km sealed road branching south at Selous, built in 2001 at a cost of US$17 million to link the Ngezi platinum mine with the Selous Metallurgical Complex.
- Chegutu–Chinhoyi Road (P13 Highway) – runs north 92 km from Chegutu to Chinhoyi, connecting to the A1 Highway.
- Gokwe–Empress Road – a link route from Harare to Gokwe and Binga.
- Kwekwe–Gokwe Road – branches west about 3 km north of Kwekwe, leading to Gokwe and Binga.
- Gweru roads – including the A17 Highway (Mvuma Road), A18 Highway (Shurugwi Road), and Lower Gweru Road.
River bridges
The A5 crosses several major rivers, including the Manyame River (near Norton), Mupfure River (near Chegutu), Muzvezve River (near Kadoma), Munyati River, Sebakwe River, Kwekwe River, Gweru River, Vungu River, and Shangani River.
Challenges
The road faces challenges from illegal gold panning activities, particularly in the Kwekwe district, where miners have operated as close as one metre from the road shoulders—well within the legally required 25-metre setback. The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has raised concerns that these activities could undermine the highway's integrity. Additionally, waypoint vendors and touts are common at stopping points along the route.
