The Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) is setting aside over $1 billion for the upgrade of seven toll gates in the country.
Zinara public relations and marketing manager, Tendai Mugabe said the upgrade to modern tolling infrastructure would be undertaken by the Department of Roads in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development.
The seven tollgates slated for upgrade are: Skyline, Colleen Bawn, Norton, Esigodini, Mushagashe, Mupfurudzi and Dema.
Norton, Esigodini and Mushagashe tollgates will have eight lanes each. Dema and Colleen Bawn will have six lanes each and Mupfurudzi will have four lanes. Skyline, along Masvingo Road, will be relocated and will have 12 lanes.
Mugabe said “We have set aside $1,145 billion for the construction of modern toll plazas. This is in line with Vision 2030. We also want our infrastructure to meet the best standards…”
Long queues at some toll gates have been the bane of most road users with far reaching economic and social consequences including revenue shortfalls as many motorists avoid the roads to circumvent gridlock. Mugabe said Zinara is exploring possibilities of e-tolling to improve the efficiency of toll fees collection.
The resolve to boost tolling infrastructure in the country is premised on using technology and international best practices to improve service delivery to Zimbabweans.