MPs Decry Tollgate Evasion as Major Revenue Leak

Oscar J Jeke- Zim Now Reporter

Lawmakers have raised alarm over rising tollgate evasions that are bleeding Zimbabwe of millions of dollars in potential revenue, warning that the practice undermines road rehabilitation and infrastructure development efforts.

Debating in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Gokwe Central legislator Daveson Masvisvi (Zanu PF) called for tougher penalties against offenders, saying the current levels of enforcement were inadequate to deter perpetrators.

“Tollgate evasions are costing the country significant revenue. This continued loss of toll fees is sabotaging national road programmes that require sustainable financing,” Masvisvi said.

Other Members of Parliament supported the call, urging law enforcement agencies and the Zimbabwe National Road Administration to tighten monitoring mechanisms and close loopholes that allow motorists to bypass tollgates.

The legislators argued that all road users must contribute fairly to the upkeep of national roads, warning that continued leakages could derail the government’s infrastructure development agenda.

ZINARA collects toll fees as part of its mandate to fund road maintenance, but reports indicate that evasions—often through illegal bypass routes and collusion at some toll points—have become widespread, raising concern about enforcement and accountability.

The debate comes at a time when Zimbabwe faces a huge road repair backlog, with Treasury allocating billions of Zimbabwe dollars annually to the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme.