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Herald Reporter
The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development has commended the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration’s computerisation of its tolling system, saying this ensured transparency and accountability.

Zanu-PF MP for Chegutu West, Cde Dexter Nduna, who chairs the committee recently said revenue collections had gone up from $7 million to about $21 million annually due to Zinara’s embracing of ICT for their collections at the toll plazas.

“The establishment of toll plazas that are 100 percent solar powered is a good example of a leader in championing the fight on climate change.

“This should be applauded and this also removes strain on the national grid and leaves the farming community benefiting from the excess energy produced by the toll plaza,” he said.

Cde Nduna said because of the Public Private Partnerships (PPP) between Zinara and Group Five, there was more revenue being collected on toll gates.

“Zinara, because of its organisational ability in accountability through its PPP arrangement with G5 and the Southern region company is being seen as an envy of many members of the Africa Road Maintenance Fund Authority (ARMFA) who now want to copy the idea so that it also becomes their source of income based on the “user pay system” and how they account for the monies collected thereof,” he said.

“The Plumtree-Mutare Highway is near completion due to optimum usage of the pay back system of the Development Bank of South Africa’s $230 million loan facility by Zinara. This is the bigger scale of accountability; Harare has received a boost in their road maintenance through an initiative by Zinara and other contractors.”

Last month, Zinara board chairperson Mr Albert Mugabe said revenue collections from toll gates tripled since the computerisation of their system.

He made the remarks during the tour of Zinara’s Control Centre in Workington by members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development.

Mr Mugabe said the computerisation of the Zinara systems ensured transparency and accountability.