Tollgates to help curb car theft, says official

GOVERNMENT will soon install an electronic system at toll gates where stolen vehicles will be identified when they pass through as part of measures to curb car thefts.

This was said by the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Infrastructure Development Mr Munesu Munodawafa when he appeared before the parliamentary committee on Transport and Infrastructure Development yesterday.

He said the Zimbabwe National Roads Authority has computerised its systems and apart from reducing leaks of funds it could also be linked to other State entities.

"We are also working on a bigger project with the Zimbabwe Republic Police to deal with car thefts on the system that will be installed at toll gates.

"The electronic system will be able to  read whether your car has been  stolen or not as you pass through the toll gates," he said.

"It is a system that we are working on and will be implemented once we get approval from State procurement authorities."

Mr Munodawafa said the system would also be linked to the Vehicle Inspection Department to prevent cars that have defects from being driven on the country's roads.

He also said they were working with ZBC so that people who have not renewed their vehicle radio licences would also be identified.

On the introduction of urban toll gates, he said Government was gathering input from stakeholders on how to implement the project.

"What we have said as a ministry is that, let us talk about it, let us consult stakeholders and hear reactions on it.

"We are saying is the concept applicable? Will it work?" he said.

Turning to roads construction Mr Munodawafa said the feasibility studies for the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge highway have been completed.

"At this stage we have completed the studies and we are currently engaged in negotiations with potential financial institutions for the project.

"The project will involve dualisation on some sections and establish a four-way highway on some portions.

"The project is estimated to cost US$928 million and also include the construction of a new Beitbridge border post," he said.

He said the rehabilitation of the Plumtree-Harare-Mutare highway being done by Zinara in conjunction with Group Five of South Africa was progressing well.

He however, said disbursements of funds for road maintenance to local authorities had not been adequate and hit out at some municipalities that divert money meant for roads to other purposes.

"The bottom line is that Zinara is not collecting a lot of money as some people think.

"From last year it had about US$36 million for disbursements to local authorities," he said.

"In some cases we give money to local authorities and a lot of it is going to car hire and some of it is being diverted to something that we have no control over. They are given money and some of them use it for something not related to roads."

On Air Zimbabwe, Mr Munodawafa said negotiations with potential partners were on-going but said the national carriers' debt and its labour issues were complicating discussions.

Air Zimbabwe has over US$130 million debt and has also failed to down size its workforce after their attempt to retrench their over 1 000 workforce was deemed illegal by the courts.

He also said the National Railways of Zimbabwe also required US$450 million to upgrade its infrastructure to enable it to operate viably.