Legislators exempted from tollgate fees

By Chengetai Zvauya

HARARE – Legislators have been exempted from paying tollgate fees. This follows a request tabled by parliamentarians seeking an exemption ostensibly because they would be performing parliamentary duties.

Transport minister Obert Mpofu told legislators recently that they should submit number plates for their respective vehicles to Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) so that they are captured in a database for easy implementation of the policy.

“Government has exempted legislators from paying toll fees as the necessary paperwork to enforce the policy has been completed,” Mpofu said. He said a meeting was convened recently between him and Zinara boss Frank Chitukutuku.

“We agreed that we would come up with a solution,” Mpofu said.

“We also highlighted that the cars being used by MPs should be given separate numbers so as to make it easy to ensure that the car that would be passing through belongs to an MP.”

The Daily News understands that all MPs have since submitted their documentation to Zinara.

Matabeleland South MDC Senator Watchy Sibanda had asked Mpofu on what had become of their request to Zinara that they be exempted from paying toll fees.

He was supported by Matabeleland North MDC Senator Herbert Madolo Sinampande.

The country has 22 tollgates and has mooted introducing more in urban areas to decongest cities, in particular Harare. Daily News