TOLLGATE MONEY RAISES DUST

THE 2.9 billion revenue collection by the National Roads fund agency (NRFA) from toll gates is impressive, but not a true reflection of the actual figure because we have a huge number of vehicles passing through on toll gates countrywide, Commuters Association of Zambia (CAZ) President Aaron Kamuti has charged.

In an interview with the Scoop, Mr. Kamuti said there was huge traffic especially along the Great North road as buses and tracks were always passing.

He also said the country had seen a lot of vehicles flocking in the country and using the toll gates but that constant maintenance of the roads across the country was still lacking despite the huge amounts of money being collected.

He also noted that apart from toll gates, huge sums of money were collected from bus stations in Lusaka like the Intercity and Lumumba every day which were supposed to go towards service provision but very little is seen from such proceeds. 

He said such proceeds may be misappropriated and not used for intended purposes by some unscrupulous public officers.

He said it was the same thing with money that was collected from the toll gates and road tax which he alleged that was misused adding that even though the Government had clarified that the money was used for other developmental programmes, the country could do better especially on road infrastructure.

He said it was a shame that the same toll gates which were raking in billions of Kwachas were sitting on pathetic roads yet using the same facilities to collect the money.

“We hope and desire to see these toll gates plough back to the people of Zambia. We haven’t seen much from them from the time they started operating. I am one of the privileged citizens who supported the initiative and project before the inception of the toll gates in Zambia,” Mr. Kamuti said.

He said there was a need for the Government to ensure that proper road signage was put including proper road furniture.

“Now, if we are talking about such figures, all this could do wonders in developing the country. Therefore, this K2.9 billion is not a true reflection. We know there might be more money from the toll gates, he said.