The Zimbabwean Government, through the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA), has approved and granted National Project Status to the US$3 billion Harare Light Rail Project, involving private-sector investors and local authorities in Harare.

The Harare Light Rail Project will pave the way for a modern mass transit system connecting the city’s central business district (CBD) to key suburbs, Chitungwiza, Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport (RGMIA), and the new city in Mt Hampden. The project is expected to revolutionise public transportation across Greater Harare and play a vital role in the city’s preparations to host the 2029 Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF). National Project Status designates the light rail system as a key strategic infrastructure initiative, enabling it to receive fast-tracked investment support, coordinated government assistance, and simplified regulatory approvals. The project will be implemented via a PPP, with the investor currently raising around US$5 million for the preparatory phase, backed by the African Development Bank (AfDB). This funding will finance essential pre-construction activities, including feasibility studies, detailed engineering designs, environmental and social impact assessments, and transaction advisory services.

The project would be implemented in five phases at an estimated total cost of US$3 billion. Phase One, valued at US$1 billion, will involve constructing the first rail corridor between Harare's CBD and Kuwadzana. The phase will include elevated railway sections, battery-powered and solar-powered trains, modern passenger stations and the project's main maintenance depot. The second phase will extend the railway to Highfield and Chitungwiza, while the third phase will connect the city centre with Mabvuku-Tafara. Phase Four will link Cranborne with the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, while the fifth and final phase will connect Kuwadzana with the new city in Mt Hampden.

Upon completion, the light rail network is set to form the cornerstone of Harare’s long-term urban transport master plan. It will connect residential suburbs with industrial zones, commercial hubs, government institutions, and key economic corridors. The system will also seamlessly integrate with the city’s growing bus network, where buses will serve as feeders to rail stations, while trains handle high-volume commuter traffic over longer distances. As part of its broader public transport modernisation drive, the Government has already acquired more than 200 buses to help build a fully integrated urban transport system.

The light rail project is part of Harare’s broader urban renewal programme to prepare for hosting the 2029 Intra-African Trade Fair, one of Africa’s largest trade and investment events. Preparations also include building a new convention centre (8,000–15,000 capacity) at Robert Mugabe Square, expanding hotel accommodation, developing modern exhibition facilities, and attracting private investment in hospitality, retail, and mixed-use projects.