New frequent travellers pass for tollgates

ZTN Reporter

Motorists who frequent the same tollgate route will soon have the option to prepay tollgate fees for a month. The travellers will be given a Frequent Travellers Express Pass which enables them to pass through toll gates without queuing.

As part of its efforts to reduce congestion at toll gates, the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) will also introduce a system that will allow motorists travelling long distances to pay for all their toll gates at one point.

This is part of an ongoing exercise by the roads administration authority to improve efficiency at tollgates.

Addressing journalists at a news conference in Harare today, Zinara chief executive officer Mr Nkosinathi Ncube said the frequent travellers express pass system is in its pilot stage but is yet to be launched officially.

He said motorists with the pass will spend a few seconds at most while passing tollgates.

“Now we have got a model where one can prepay for their trips on a monthly basis, for instance if you say I stay in Marondera and I drive through Goromonzi every day, you can buy passes that equate to your trips for a month. It will enable you to pass through toll gates without spending much time, two seconds at most,” he said.

Mr Ncube also said another system will be introduced later for motorists travelling long distances to pay for all their tollgates at one point.

“We will be introducing another one which is trip aligned. For instance, if you are travelling a distance with 10 tollgates you can pay for all of them at one point, “he said.

Meanwhile, newly appointed Zinara Board chairperson Dr George Manyaya said the authority is well aware of the bad state of roads in the country and is seeking additional funding to refurbish roads. “We have already mobilised funds for the 2022 disbursements.

In the next two weeks we are ready to disburse ZWL$17 billion dollars,” he said.Zimbabwe’s roads were declared a state of national disaster in 2020.