During the Frelimo-Renamo struggle of the late 70s to early 90s it was one of the strategic towns where the FPLM maintained a heavy mechanized presence, since the Espungabera-Dombé-Chimoio road link which offered access to Zimbabwe, was repeatedly attacked and disrupted by insurgents. In 2010 the Espungabera-Dombé road was being rehabilitated, which was expected to improve the area's economic and tourism potential.