Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba, Senior Reporter
THE Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) is set to build more toll plazas and roll out e-tags countrywide to improve efficiency, motorists’ convenience and reduce operational costs.
The ZINARA eTag is a Radio Frequency identification (RFID)-based electronic toll payment solution designed to deliver a faster, safer and more convenient travel experience across Zimbabwe’s toll network.
Launched in December 2024, it enables cashless, automatic toll deductions from a prepaid or linked account, improving efficiency for motorists and operators alike.
The current E-Tag enrollment is 31 vehicles and the platform is available at 25 out of 29 tollgates.
So far, Zinara is also implementing E-tolling, a cashless system that enables road users to make payments for road use using card facilities or e-tags at toll gates, without requiring vehicles to stop.
The process does not require physical toll booths on the highways. This was revealed while senior Government officials led journalists from various media houses on a tour of the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Road rehabilitation and upgrading project.
The delegation comprises of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development permanent secretary, Engineer Joy Makumbe, Zinara board chairperson Dr George Manyaya, board members, Zinara chief executive officer Mr Nkosinathi Ncube, director of Media Services in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Mr George Chisoko and senior government officials.
On Thursday, the delegation first visited the Ntabazinduna Toll Plaza. Addressing journalists, Eng Joy Makumbe said the Ministry was not only concentrating on road construction only but on infrastructure such as the toll plazas.
“So we want to make our roads world-class, and we are also moving from tollgates to toll plazas,” she said.
“And when we talk of plazas, we don’t want to see you going there facing challenges since we are moving to world-class by installing e-tollgates to address some of these challenges.”
She said that as the contractors are seized with rehabilitating roads, they are also seized with the construction of toll plazas.
Dr Manyaya said they were in the process of widening some of the toll plazas that have been constructed countrywide.
“And also just to put a disclaimer that this lane is not for Government officials, as people think, even you can actually access this lane,” he said.
“It’s for everyone. We have opened this e-tag for everyone and as we go, I think you have noticed that we had a tender for e-wallet. We are introducing a Zinara e-wallet linked to Zimswitch, where you can transact in that wallet, where you can pay your licensing and also pay when passing your tollgate.”
He said so far, there are over 30 000 cars belonging to companies and individuals that have registered countrywide for these platforms.
The tour comes after the Government has prioritised the US$1,2 billion rehabilitation and upgrade of the Beitbridge–Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Highway — including the construction of modern toll plazas with weighbridges — as one of the flagship infrastructure projects to be rolled out between 2026 and 2030 under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS 2).
