Shurugwi residents reject proposed Musavezi tollgate, citing three tolls in 100km

Shurugwi residents reject proposed Musavezi tollgate, citing three tolls in 100km

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Residents of Shurugwi District, including traditional leaders, have objected to Government plans to establish a new tollgate on the recently rehabilitated Mhandamabwe–Shurugwi Road, arguing the area is already paying too much in toll fees.

The objections were raised during a stakeholder consultation held by the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) at the Tongogara Rural District Council boardroom last Friday. Zinara officials said the proposed tollgate would be located near Musavezi River and the Makotosi turn-off.

If approved, the tollgate would be positioned between the existing Mhandamabwe and Guinea Fowl tollgates. Residents said this would result in motorists meeting three tollgates in a distance of less than 100 kilometres along the route.

Kenneth Sakupwanya, representing Ministry of Transport official Engineer Stephen Kamutema, told the meeting the proposal was driven by increased traffic volumes after the upgrading of the road. He said the route has become a key link for traffic moving between Beitbridge and central towns including Gweru, Kwekwe and Kadoma.

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However, several speakers questioned why Shurugwi District should have what they described as a heavy concentration of tollgates compared to other parts of Zimbabwe.

Chief Nhema said the tollgate would affect villagers making short local journeys to business centres, churches and relatives. “Apart from daily hustles with these tollgates, our children who come home for holidays will be restricted from driving locally and visiting relatives, going to business centres to meet friends or to churches,” he said.

Ward 18 councillor Stewart Tavagwisa warned the tollgate could disrupt local business activity, particularly for construction-related transport. He said trucks frequently move river sand from Musavezi River to nearby growth points.

Residents also expressed doubt about assurances that toll revenues would benefit the local community through road maintenance funding and discounted toll fees for those living within 10 kilometres of the proposed site.

Chief Nhema rejected those assurances, saying communities had previously maintained local roads without what he described as meaningful Government support. “These are just promises. We know that after establishing the tollgate you are not going to come back and talk about those discounts or to give us money to maintain our roads,” he said.

Some residents said that despite the opposition aired at the consultation, they believed authorities were determined to proceed with the project.

Zinara regional manager Enock Masocha defended the tolling model, saying revenue was needed for road rehabilitation and maintenance after Zimbabwe lost access to international financing. “No one is happy with tollgates. The money raised is used to rehabilitate roads,” Masocha told the meeting.

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