News / National
Govt to take over tollgates from Zimra
01 Oct 2013 at 05:18hrs | Views
GOVERNMENT is now finalising for the full takeover of toll gates manning by the Zimbabwe National Road Administration from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, an official has said.
Secretary for Transport and Infrastructural Development Mr Munesu Munodawafa said the two State entities were in the process of finalising the takeover.
Mr Munodawafa said this in an interview last week on the sidelines of a Coach and Bus Operators Association award ceremony where he was guest of honour.
The association was rewarding members who excelled in several safety related categories.
Mr Munodawafa said his ministry had wanted to complete the takeover by the end of this month according to their plans.
"There are certain things and processes whose cut off date is September 30 2013. Let's remember we are dealing with two public enterprises or State institutions," said Mr Munodawafa.
"So we are putting in place a system of a smooth takeover. So there may be certain aspects or equipment of Zimra that may continue serving the public because it is for the national good. But largely we are on course."
Some stakeholders, particularly parliamentarians, had expressed concern at the pace at which Zinara was moving in the takeover manning of toll gates.
It had been observed that Zinara was losing money in handling fees levied by Zimra for the collection of the money on behalf of the road authority.
Stakeholders had also noted that the creation of two State entities in handling the money created more leakages in revenue collection hence the need to have Zinara in full control of the toll fees collection.
Government introduced toll gates in the past few years as a way of raising money to repair roads in line with international trends.
This was after it had been noted that Government was saddled with other financial obligations hence the need to levy road users the money to maintain roads.
Zinara is in the process of constructing state-of-the art toll plazas as part of measures to improve revenue collection and reduce leakages.
Secretary for Transport and Infrastructural Development Mr Munesu Munodawafa said the two State entities were in the process of finalising the takeover.
Mr Munodawafa said this in an interview last week on the sidelines of a Coach and Bus Operators Association award ceremony where he was guest of honour.
The association was rewarding members who excelled in several safety related categories.
Mr Munodawafa said his ministry had wanted to complete the takeover by the end of this month according to their plans.
"There are certain things and processes whose cut off date is September 30 2013. Let's remember we are dealing with two public enterprises or State institutions," said Mr Munodawafa.
"So we are putting in place a system of a smooth takeover. So there may be certain aspects or equipment of Zimra that may continue serving the public because it is for the national good. But largely we are on course."
Some stakeholders, particularly parliamentarians, had expressed concern at the pace at which Zinara was moving in the takeover manning of toll gates.
It had been observed that Zinara was losing money in handling fees levied by Zimra for the collection of the money on behalf of the road authority.
Stakeholders had also noted that the creation of two State entities in handling the money created more leakages in revenue collection hence the need to have Zinara in full control of the toll fees collection.
Government introduced toll gates in the past few years as a way of raising money to repair roads in line with international trends.
This was after it had been noted that Government was saddled with other financial obligations hence the need to levy road users the money to maintain roads.
Zinara is in the process of constructing state-of-the art toll plazas as part of measures to improve revenue collection and reduce leakages.
Source - herald
