The Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) has issued a clarification on tollgate fee exemptions, following reports of confusion and abuse of the system.
The statement, issued this week, aims to set the record straight on who is eligible for free passage and who must pay up.
The clarification comes after concerns were raised about the exemption policy, particularly regarding traditional chiefs. While the law allows chiefs to be exempt from toll fees, the previous system, which involved issuing cards for free passage, was prone to abuse.
“The exemption policy is designed to support specific sectors of the economy and promote efficient movement of goods and services,” said ZINARA spokesperson, Mrs. Tsungie Manyeza.
“We understand that there has been some confusion surrounding the application of the policy, and we are committed to providing clear guidance to ensure its effective implementation.”
The new policy, which came into effect in 2020, now exempts only government vehicles and those issued to traditional chiefs, not the chiefs themselves. This change was implemented to curb the alleged abuse of exemptions by some traditional leaders.
“To ensure compliance with new regulations, Zinara engaged the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works for a list of all vehicles that were issued to the chiefs by the Government,” explained Mrs. Manyeza.
The clarification also highlighted another category of vehicles eligible for discounts: those belonging to motorists living within a 10km radius of the tollgate. These residents are entitled to one discounted tollgate pass per day, with any additional passage being charged at the regular rate.
The move to clarify the tollgate fee exemption policy comes after strong warnings from ZANU-PF chairperson, Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, and secretary general, Dr Obert Mpofu, to party members who were reportedly abusing the system. The party leadership stressed that members must be law-abiding citizens and that those who violate the law will face consequences.
ZINARA was established in 2002 and is responsible for collecting and disbursing road user charges, as well as mobilising revenue for road development and maintenance. The body was created to ensure a strong and efficient road network system throughout Zimbabwe.
The construction of tollgates in Zimbabwe began in 2006, with the first ones becoming operational in 2009. While Zimbabwe’s tollgate fees are among the highest in the region, these tollgates remain a key source of funding for road infrastructure maintenance.
