Toll fees to go up by 100%

Government has increased toll fees by almost 100% in a bid to raise funds for road rehabilitation, a Cabinet minister has said.

Transport minister, Obert Mpofu confirmed the development Wednesday, saying the increase is to enable government roll out its road rehabilitation and infrastructure development.

"Cabinet has approved an increase in toll fees and an increase in toll plazas but much detail will be made public through the appropriate channel," Mpofu said.

According to the minister, the increase in toll fees will see private motorists paying $2 up from a $1 for them to be allowed to pass at any toll gate while large trucks will fork out  $10 up from $5.

"If motorists want to enjoy good roads they must help us improve the infrastructure through these toll levies. We are actually the cheapest in the region hence we believe our prices are noble and fairly reasonable," he said.

At the moment light vehicles are charged $1, the next class of vehicle, which includes kombis pay $2, buses  pay $3 with lorries  paying $4, while haulage trucks fork out $5.

The toll gates, administered by the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) were installed in  2009 on  most of the country's highways.

Mpofu said his ministry was working on modalities to improve the state of the toll gates by installing state-of-the-art toll plazas, which look like those found along highways in neighbouring South Africa.

The country presently has 22 tollgates, whose rudimentary structures reportedly need urgent attention.

According to a source, the new higher fees are expected to help pay back the $206,6 million that Zinara borrowed from the Development Bank of Southern Africa to finance the rehabilitation of the highway.

Meanwhile Mpofu said the new technological advances at all toll plazas would  be linked to the Central Vehicle Registry and will use vehicle licence plates to recognise types of vehicles, owners, as well as control the boom gate.

Recently, government announced Zinara should report its income from toll fees to the minister's office daily, a move meant to curb corruption and close leakages.

There has been public outcry over failure by government through Zinara to rehabilitate national roads which are falling apart and contributing to the ever-increasing road carnage.

Toll fees revenue rose by almost 100 % early this year after Zinara took control of toll revenue collection from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) in October last year.

Statistics indicate that a total of $7 612 183 million was collected between October and December 2013.

In October 2013, Zinara collected $2 330 943 compared to $1 613  941 41 in October 2012.

In an unrelated matter, government has appointed a new board for the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe.

The 11-member board chaired by Nelson Mawema is tasked to tackle the increasing road carnage on the country's major roads and revamp the Highway Code.

Other members of the team include, Moses Chihuri, Jonathan Siyachitema, George Vera, Leslie Ncube, Shyleen Dube, Angeline Matopodzi, Thobekile Mpofu, Juliet Chiketa, Allowance Sango and Obia Chinyere who is the managing director.