"Toll gate revenue collection developments so far indicate weekly inflows averaging close to US$350.000, the bulk of which is immediately transferred to the Zimbabwe National Road Authority (ZINARA) for distribution to respective road authorities, including the department of state roads, district developments fund and local authorities," Biti said in his macro-economic policy and budget framework for 2010-2012.
Zimbabwe introduced toll gates in August last year as a way of mobilising resources for the rehabilitation and maintenance of the country’s road network.
Most of the country's roads are in a state of disrepair with many littered with dangerous potholes as result of years of neglect and increased volume of traffic beyond designed carrying capacity.
Hundreds of Zimbabweans including some senior government leaders have perished in road accidents that experts have largely blamed on the poor state of roads.
Biti said the attractive revenue generated from tollgates could help lure private sector participation in road maintenance.
"A sustainable significant source of domestic revenue generation also enhances scope for attracting access to additional alternative financial resources from private players through Public Private Partnership arrangements in support of broadening and expediting the trunk road network rehabilitation as well as construction of new roads," he said.
Small vehicle road users pay US$1 to cross the tollgates, while buses and lorries pay $5. Motorbike and cyclists do not pay anything.
According to the ministry of transport, 30 percent of the country’s roads require rehabilitation, while the remainder needs periodic maintenance. -- ZimOnline.
