adminThupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
Beitbridge residents have urged Government to consider scrapping the road access fees which motorists pay when entering the country from South Africa.
They say the fees have outlived their purpose following the introduction of tollgates in 2009 and that the continued levying of the fees was tantamount to double charging.
The spokesperson of the Beitbridge Concerned Residents Ms Patricia Ndlovu said on Tuesday that they had since forwarded their request to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development.
“The continued levying of the road access fees, which is mandatory for all motorists entering the country through various ports of entries has outlived its purpose following the introduction of tollgates in 2009,” said Ms Ndlovu.
“The initiative was introduced in 1995, to help Government raise funds for national roads maintenance, since we fall under the north-south corridor, which links the country with the rest of the region.
“This was introduced at the opening of the New Limpopo Bridge, where toll fees for the bridge were also introduced.
“However, we have reasons to believe that fees should have been scrapped following the implementation of tollgates under Statutory Instrument 39 of 2009.
“Logically, the payment of tollgate fees give motorist access to use the road.”
According to Ms Ndlovu, Government was now collecting revenue meant for the same initiative twice from the motorists.
She said Government should urgently look into the issue as part of the ease-of-doing-business initiative.
“Motorists travelling to South Africa do not pay road access fees because they pay tollgate fees to access roads,” she said.
“It is sad that for motorists coming to Zimbabwe, they pay the road access and tollgates fees, with the money going to the same principal.”
Ms Ndlovu said it cost about $30 for one to travel to and from South Africa using a light vehicle — $20 for the New Limpopo Bridge toll fees and $10 for road access.
She said after paying fees at the border post, motorists also pay for tollgates along major highways.
Ms Ndlovu said they were of the view that the fees were not necessary for Beitbridge residents, who use the local authority-serviced roads rather than the national roads.
“We feel the scrapping of fees is an easy way of de-congesting Beitbridge Border Post as it cuts on unnecessary processes,” she said.
“It is a fact that Zimbabwe is losing revenue, with some tourists and businessmen getting frustrated by the congestion at Beitbridge Border Post, especially the queue to pay the fees.”
At the moment, the fee is collected by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra), while Zinara collects money for toll fees and toll gates.
The Permanent secretary for Transport and Infrastructural Development Engineer George Mlillo confirmed receiving a letter from the Beitbridge residents.
“Yes, we received a letter with such proposals, we are working on it and we will soon respond to the concerned parties,” he said.
Online Reporter