MUTARE residents have joined others from other cities and towns in condemning government’s proposal to introduce urban tollgates to raise funds for roads rehabilitation.
BY KENNETH NYANGANI
The proposal was announced by Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere recently, when local authorities complained over paltry allocations they received from the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) to maintain urban roads.
Although the Urban Councils Authority of Zimbabwe has embraced the plan, residents’ associations described the move as ill-advised, adding they feared the money might end up being abused by the Zanu PF government.
“This is an ill-timed and ill-advised area, this should have input of residents, who are concerned. These are policies, which are leaving residents’ rights violated,’’ United Mutare Residents and Ratepayers’ Trust programmes officer, Edson Dube said.
“We are left wondering what could have motivated them to come up with such a decision without consulting residents. We are concerned with the issue of transparency and accountability.
“The disbursement of Zinara funds from highway tollgates to local authorities has not been consistent and the funds have not done enough to maintain our roads, Zinara should put their house in order,’’ he said.
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Former Transport minister Obert Mpofu once proposed urban tolling, although the idea was stillborn.
