Limpopo Bridge toll fees increased

Motorists travelling to South Africa will now have to fork out more after government gazetted new toll fees for the New Limpopo Bridge.

According to a notice in the latest Government Gazette, motor cycles will now pay $4 while heavy vehicles will fork out $23, up from $3 and $17 respectively.

Motorists driving light vehicles will have to pay $9, up from $6.

Read the notice: "It is hereby notified that the minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development (Obert Mopfu) has, in terms of section 6 of the Toll Roads Act (chapter 13:13), made the following regulations. These regulations may be cited as the Beitbridge Bridge (Tolling)(Ammendment)Regulations, 2014 (number 1).

"The schedule to the Beitbridge (Tolling) Regulations, 2014 published in Statutory Instrument 100 of 2014 is repealed."

Government recently took over the New Limpopo Bridge, linking Zimbabwe and South Africa, located just after Beitbridge, which was constructed under the Build Operate and Transfer (Bot) in 1994 by the New Limpopo Bridge Private Limited (NLB).

NLB (Pvt) Ltd operated the bridge for 20 years and realising about $1,6 million in revenue from toll fees monthly.

The bridge is now administered by Zimbabwe National Roads Administrator.

Meanwhile, the ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare has approved the 2014 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for workers in the Cement, Lime and Allied Industry.

According to the Government Gazette, the lowest paid worker, grade B5, in the industry is set to get a monthly salary of $405 up from $387.

Workers in grade C1 will receive $477, C2 ($636), C3 ($856) while those in the highest grade, C4, are set to take home a monthly salary of $1 055.

Read the notice in the Government Gazette: "It is hereby notified that the minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare has, in terms of section 80 of the Labour Act (chapter 28:01), published the Collective Bargaining Agreement which was registered in terms of section 79 of the Labour Act.

"Wage increase agreement made in accordance with the provisions of the Labour Act (chapter 28:01) between the Cement and Lime and Allied Employers Association of Zimbabwe and the Cement and Lime and Allied Workers Union of Zimbabwe being parties to the National Employment Council for the Cement and Lime and Allied Industry of Zimbabwe," read the notice.