Tollgate Revenue Under Scrutiny As Govt Declares $57 million in 3 Years
According to media reports, Zimbabwe National Revenue Authority acting CEO, Moses Juma admitted that millions of dollars were lost before toll gate fee collection was computerized.
WASHINGTON DC — Some economists are doubting the $57 million that the government says it has collected from toll gates since they were installed in 2013. Intertoll chief, Bridget Ledwaba, revealed the figures on Monday when she appeared before a parliamentary portfolio committee on transport where she said revenue collection from the tollgates had improved this year following the computerization of the toll fee system. According to media reports, Zimbabwe National Revenue Authority acting chief executive officer, Moses Juma, admitted that millions of dollars were lost before the toll gate fee collection system was computerized. "We computerized 17 tollgates on a phased approach from 2016 with the last one opening in April last year, and from the nine tollgates operated by Intertoll, we got an average of $2.1 million per month. These nine tollgates are 100 percent solar powered and are international standard and the first in the world to operate on solar," Juma is quoted in the Newsday newspaper. The country currently has 12 tollgates. Economist, Masimba Kuchera said there could be loopholes in the system, adding that the money raised does not measure up with the construction and maintenance of roads. Another economist, Prosper Chitambara told Studio 7 that revenue collected from toll gates is insignificant. Chitambara said in terms of how the tollgates are bringing revenue "it also has to be looked in terms of dwindling economic growth."