dyton mupawaenda
Freeman Razemba and Victor Maposa
As the Harare Metropolitan built-up area flows towards the Dema tollgate, there are plans to move it south so that motorists living in peri-urban Dema, but working in Harare do not have to pay road tolls.
The moved toll plaza will be near the 59km peg along the Harare-Hwedza Road. So far more than 32 people from Seke are employed to conduct the works while more are expected to be employed soon.
The Skyline Tollgate is set to be moved to the 36km peg along the Harare-Masvingo Road, moving it outside the present urban set up, while the new Shamva tollgate which was in October moved from within the Harare urban built up area to Juru area, is now operational.
The Government recently announced that five tollgates on the outskirts of cities and towns were going to be moved further out to ease the financial burden on motorists living in peri-urban areas who had to pay road tolls twice daily.
There are plans to upgrade existing tollgates on major highways to ensure they can cope rapidly and easily with the growing volumes of traffic and do not become a choke point.
The tollgates listed for relocation were Skyline, Dema, Lion’s Den, Umguza and Shamva while those that are to be rehabilitated to standard levels are those near Norton, Esigodini, Mushagashi, Mupfurudzi and Colleen Bawn.
Zinara would fund the reconstruction, rehabilitation and relocation of the tollgates.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona, Deputy Minister Joshua Sacco and Government officials yesterday visited the new site where a ground breaking ceremony was held.
In an interview, the minister said the authorities had started the process of relocating the tollgate and construct the state-of-the-art toll plaza.
“I am actually delighted to be standing before you this afternoon to demonstrate that we have got a listening President and you have heard from the community that this was now a problematic tollgate within the community and it was no longer serving its purpose.
“Once again because of the listening President Cde Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, he then assigned me to come and hear the concerns of the citizenry.
“And I am happy that as we speak we have started the process of relocating the tollgate and we are standing here at the place where we are going to construct the state-of-the-art toll plaza and we are doing this using our own resources. I must commend the Second Republic where we are not just talking, but we are talking and implementing what we are talking,” he said.
He said the idea of visiting the area was not that because there was going to be a by-election, but it was because of President Mnangagwa’s mantra of not leaving anyone and no place behind.
“And I am happy that, yes, there is a by-election just in a few days to come, but this is not the idea behind of us coming. We are here because His Excellency is saying there is no place and no one who is going to be left behind and you have seen that we are moving across the country as the Ministry of Transport.
“Last week we were in Shurugwi, then Mutasa South, today we are here to demonstrate that yes in terms of infrastructure, we know the essence of infrastructure that it enables any given economy to prosper.
“We want to assure the people of Zimbabwe we are not only going to look at the tollgate, but we are also going to rehabilitate Seke Road which passes through Hatfield. We are also going to be rehabilitating the Chitungwiza Road which comes from Mbudzi Interchange.
“We are building the state-of-the-art Mbudzi Interchange. Work is progressing very well and are happy that we are on course and we will see very soon such a wonderful infrastructure. We are also progressing very well in terms of other developments.
“We are saying yes beyond this place we also have Hwedza-Mushandirapamwe Road which we are busy, we are seized with now rehabilitating and will take us to Marondera and it will also connect the Marondera Road which emanate from Harare-Goromonzi via Mutare to Forbes border post.
“I am happy again that last week we were at Forbes Border Post were you witnessed us trying to actually race against time and execute with speed the expansion of Forbes Border Post. So we are here not to demonstrate to the people of Zimbabwe and in particular Seke that we are here to be voted into power but to demonstrate the work ethic and the culture of the Second Republic,” Minister Mhona said.
Zanu PF candidate for Seke constituency Cde Munyaradzi Kashambe said he was happy that the plea of the people in the expanding urban area had been attended to.
“This issue of out tollgate has been giving the community a headache. We are aware that our Government is seized with a lot of projects that requires money. But we want to thank our listening President for answering to the peoples concerns and today we are here at this place where the tollgate will be relocated to.
“The development will not only improve our road but has already created employment for the people of Seke. Already 32 people will be employed and more will be employed,” he said.
Chief Seke said: “This is a good project here. Please go and thank the President for us. He has fulfilled our wishes. This project is important for the people of Seke. We have to thank our President and support him always. Seke will never be the same again.”
Recently, the tollgate just outside Harare city limits between the 19,5km and 20,5km pegs along the Harare-Nyamapanda Road, was moved north to between the 40km and 41km pegs on the highway and now no longer interferes with traffic that is essentially intra-urban within the greater Harare area.
The relocation of the Shamva tollgate to Juru was gazetted in Statutory Instrument 217 of 2023 by Minister Mhona.
Even pure rural tollgates have some people living close by so these people living within 10km of a tollgate shall also pay toll fees discounted by 10 percent following the gazetting of Statutory Instrument 5 of 2024, the Toll Roads (National Road Network) (Amendment) Regulations, 2024 (No 16), by Minister Mhona last week.
Residents staying within 10km of a tollgate situated in an ordinary road and currently paying monthly toll fees of US$150 will enjoy a US$15 discount while those staying within a 10km radius of a toll gate on a premium road will be discounted US$20 of the US$200 monthly fee they are currently paying.
Qualifying persons for the discounts shall be issued with a residential discount exemption certificate.
Online Reporter