Harare Bureau
ALL tollgates along the country’s major highways will undergo major upgrades and redevelopment this year under a targeted programme meant to reduce on-site traffic congestion and revenue leakages.
The Tollgate Development Plan will begin within the first three months of this year. Some of the tollgates will be equipped with e-tolling technology, which uses equipment that recognises vehicles through electronic tags.
In an interview, Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) board chairperson Dr George Manyaya said redevelopment of tollgates will enhance the parastatal’s revenue collection capacity.
“We need to look into upgrading and updating of ICT infrastructure and software solutions so as to increase operational efficiency to ensure speedy and flawless service to all customers.
We must harness the digital economy and use emerging technologies to counter leakages that are always reported at some of our tollgates. We are going to ensure that all our systems are computerised in order to minimise human interface.
“The project of e-tolling is something that we are seriously looking at to ensure that our operations are seamless and efficient.
From the end of the first quarter of this year, the project of enhancing the computerisation capacity of tollgates would have started.”
He said Zinara will partner with the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, who own the tollgates, in undertaking the redevelopment project.
“We will be jointly announcing the Tollgate Development Plan with the ministry soon. A solid budget is already available to ensure that this task is a success.”
Zinara, said Dr Manyaya, has introduced a loss control department to minimise the risk of revenue leakages.
Last year, it disbursed over $12 billion to various road authorities for road development and rehabilitation.