Tollgates for rural roads coming soon

GOVERNMENT will soon begin the rehabilitation of the Bulawayo-Tsholotsho, Bulawayo-Nkayi and the Lupane-Nkayi-Kwekwe roads with tollgates introduced at these and other rural roads, in a bid to raise funds for their rehabilitation.

The exercise will include the widening and tarring of these roads, whose current state has over the years attracted criticism from motorists.

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Dr Obert Mpofu, said Government could not rely on foreign funding but had to work together with motorists to rehabilitate the country's road network and this could only be done through the introduction of the toll fees.

The minister said the road network, especially in rural areas, had been largely neglected hence the need for Government to move in and address this problem.

"We have already received the tender bids for the rehabilitation of the Bulawayo-Tsholotsho, Bulawayo-Nkayi and the Lupane-Nkayi-Kwekwe roads. I believe by end of this month there will be the adjudication of these bids.

"What should be noted is that these are projects that have always been in the pipeline so we are simply setting them in motion but this time we are saying motorists will have to contribute towards this exercise through tolling, hence we will be introducing tollgates on these roads and others around the country regardless of location," said Dr Mpofu.

He said the move should not be considered as an added burden for rural motorists but motorists contributing in fixing the roads they use, which is not Government's responsibility alone.

"The thrust of the whole matter is that we must not always rely on foreign funding to do our projects but rather this is our responsibility. Yes, we can always complain about the state of the roads but the onus is now on everyone to see to it that we rehabilitate these roads and the only way we can do this is through tolling," said the minister.

Dr Mpofu, however, did not reveal the dates when the rural toll gates would be introduced, saying this was an ongoing process and as soon as all the logistics had been completed they would make the necessary announcements.

"The adjudication and awarding of the tenders will be the first step then we will take it from there that is in terms of identifying the exact locations of these tollgates," he said.

Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Matabeleland North Province, Cain Mathema, hailed the move to rehabilitate the roads, noting that these projects had been left hanging for a long period while motorists continued to suffer as their vehicles were damaged as they continued to use these roads.

"The issue of the need to introduce tollgates on these roads is neither here nor there. We should note that finally some progress is being made towards the widening, tarring and rehabilitating these roads. We must not forget that these plans have been in place for a long time and now what is simply happening is that we are putting the plans in motion.

"I am certain that as soon as the tenders are awarded everything will be set into motion and the continued complaints on these roads will now be a thing of the past. I guess we can all agree on the fact that these roads have been neglected for a long period of time," said Mathema.

Dr Mpofu has, ever since his appointment, made clear his intention to rehabilitate the country's dilapidated road infrastructure, with initial pronouncement of the need to establish urban tollgates to raise money to finance infrastructural development, decongest the city centre and reduce carbon emissions.

Tollgates in the country have so far been concentrated on the country's major highways.