Zinara tollgate fees inflated
Motorists with effect 30 January 2021, can pay tollgate fees in foreign currency. Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) confirms this after introducing a dual pricing system. This has resulted in increased fees in local currency.
According to the Statutory Instrument 32 of 2021 implemented by ZInara, light vehicles will pay US$2, minibuses US$3, buses US$4, heavy vehicles US$5 and haulage trucks US$10. The SI reads that toll fees for foreign registered vehicles shall be in United States dollars or equivalent in other foreign currencies.
In the local currency light vehicles will pay $164, minibuses $246, buses $328, heavy vehicles $410 and haulage trucks $820.
These charges are in line with the country’s 2021 national budget. Presenting the national budget Professor Mthuli Ncube said that ZInara would be allowed to collect toll fees in foreign currency so that it can service its foreign debt.
Zinara tollgate fees inflated
“Such foreign currency resources will enhance Zinara’s capacity to pay external debts. I, therefore, propose that toll fees be payable in foreign or local currencies at the Foreign Currency Auction Rate,” said the professor.
Tendai Mugabe, Zinara spokesperson confirms the new tariff schedule saying it is in line with the Government‘s efforts to improve the country’s road network. He thinks that the dual pricing system is a positive move which will improve the disbursements that they will provide to road authorities.
“This is because the Government has put road development at the core of national development. The collected funds should enable road authorities to improve road networks under the jurisdiction. Most of our roads in Zimbabwe are bad and with such amounts of rains the situation seems to be worsening,” he said.