Tue, 20 Jun 2017 14:00:17 +0000
By BUUMBA CHIMBULU
THE Centre for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD) has challenged Government to explain how the K236.9 million raised in toll fees from January to May 2017 has been utilised.
Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development, Ronald Chitotela, told Parliament last week that K236.9 million had been raised in toll fees from January to May, 2017, and that Government intended to set up 20 more inland toll plazas estimated to collect K670 million from road users.
CTPD acting executive director, Isaac Mwaipopo, said it was critical for Government to update the public on how the total revenues collected from the time the toll fees were introduced have been utilised.
“This will help the general public appreciate and see the linkage between the money they pay at the toll gates and how it is being utilized which may further enhance compliance from motorists. It is our sincere hope that beyond mentioning figures in terms of collection, the ministry can go a step further and show where these funds are being utilised,
“There are a number of adverts that have been running on various media platforms sensitizing the public on the need to pay toll fees, but less information on how the resources collected from the time the toll gates where introduced have been utilised,” he said. Mr Mwaipopo also challenged the National Road Fund Agency (NFRA), established to perform many functions beyond collection of fees, to share information with the public on roads that had been maintained and constructed using this fund.
He said CTPD noted that sustainable domestic resource mobilisation and utilisation were key prerequisites in fostering social and economic growth.
He said Zambia had in the recent past borrowed huge sums of money in a bid to finance social and infrastructure development among which included road infrastructure because improved road networks was vital to opening links to better markets, among others. “CTPD further urges Government through the Road Development Agency (RDA) to expedite finalization of economic roads, key among these roads to include the Chingola-Solwezi road which is long overdue,” he said.
