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Why Zambia Needs Toll Roads
There has been a debate in Zambia as to whether we are ready to have toll gates or not. Some corners of society are for the argument that Zambia does not have the capacity to build such infrastructure. Firstly, Zambians need to understand what a toll gate is, how a toll gate is built and how it operates. Secondly, to the average Zambian, having to pay for a service that is generally perceived to be free seems to be an absurd thing. Why should one pay for a road when they want to move from one place to another. To understand this one needs to know what a toll road is; “this is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll (a fee) for use.”
To build roads costs billions of kwacha. Toll gates are necessary as the money raised from this will be used to maintain the roads and assist us in meeting the demands of social services, which are important for the growth of our country. Toll roads will accelerate the availability of initial funding for construction, compared to traditional tax based funding. Toll roads therefore will reduce the total net cost to the economy, ensuring greater opportunities for prosperity and growth.
Advantages of toll roads
Procurement and dedication of funds
Toll road schemes are more costly for road users than obtaining funds through taxation or a fuel levy, but the funds can be obtained much sooner. Toll roads enable the public sector to contract the private sector for the construction, operation and maintenance of the road for a period of 25 to 30 years. It is in short a self-generating form of income, the Government of the Republic of Zambia will play a moderating role and just ensure the laws are adhered to and roads are safe. It is a funny thing to see a president launching road projects because that should be left to the Ministry or Department tasked with that. So if we have self-sustaining road mechanisms our dear President can concentrate on far important issues. The President is a human being and there is too much pressure in leading a country so this will lessen some of the pressure in the case of Zambia where we make a big deal of our President launching road projects, for example, the Link Zambia projects. I have never heard of President Jacob Zuma (South Africa) or King Mohammed VI (Morocco) commissioning a road. Why? Simple! This is because the mechanisms in place are developed to such an extent that a road maintaince programme runs itself without the president’s hand.
Improved road
The road is usually upgraded and expanded before it is tolled. This expansion provides increased capacity and thus reduced congestion. The upgrade of a road generally also improves the safety and decreases accidents. Expansion of roads such as the Great North and Great East Roads in this regard would be a good thing.
Tolls also act as a form of congestion charge. It rations the use of the road to those with the highest need to travel. This reduces unnecessary trips and congestion.
Job creation and gross domestic product (GDP)
Gross Domestic Product is defined as the total value of all final goods and services produced in the country. GDP is an indicator of welfare, and an increase in GDP could lead to a better life for a country’s population. Toll roads can significantly increase GDP over the lifetime of the project. A toll road project leads to direct (constructors, builders, architects) and indirect (toll road attendants, ambulance services at toll points, casual workers) job creation. Direct jobs are created in the construction, operation and maintenance of the road and indirect job creation is stimulated through the increased business and commercial opportunities following the development. We so need job creation in Zambia as the population is ever increasing.
Encourage the use of public transport
Government will make revenue if they are to invest in the public sector like a modern train service and bus service because people will use them to avoid unnecessary toll fees. This is a spill-over effect of toll gates.
Other major advantages of toll roads relates to funding, road condition and job creation. Funds can be procured more readily and are dedicated towards road improvement and maintenance. The roads condition is improved in terms of safety and capacity, which leads to safer and shorter travel times. Jobs are created in the construction, operation and maintenance of the road, as well as due to economic growth stimulated by the project.
Disadvantages
The disadvantages of toll roads are mostly related to user reactions. An increased load might be imposed on the alternative routes due to traffic diversion. Public transport will not be advanced, since toll roads encourage public vehicle use.
It has been revealed that society generally reacts negatively towards toll roads in the first few years after implementation. This is because the public finds it difficult to pay for things which were originally provided for free. Tolling is experienced as a sudden real expense, while the savings in running costs, services and saved time are not immediately notable. As soon as users get used to the tolls and realise the benefits, their attitudes will improve drastically.
The advantages far out-weigh the disadvantages so it tells us something
Why do I pay taxes and now also tolls?
When we pay taxes these monies are used for the service which government renders to us all. Taxes are used to pay for these services, whether we make use of all of them or not. Tolls on the other hand, will pay only a portion of road that we use in other words it is a user fee. Toll fees are used directly on the road, which is a benefit to the motorist.
Taxes will not be used to fund a toll road and therefore this will reduce the tax obligation of the individual.
Why do we have to pay tolls on an existing road, which was paid for out of taxes?
Road performance depends on how, what and when maintenance is performed. Roads deteriorate over time due to environmental influences such as weather, ultra violet radiation, overloading etc. Tolls are not levied on the value of the current asset (road), but only on the initial and future improvements, including operations and maintenance. Monies derived from taxes are used on other, non-toll-roads, including city streets.
What will the toll fees used for?
The tolls collected on a specific road will be used to, inter alia, and repay the loans obtained to finance the building, upgrading or improvement of the road. In addition, it provides a dedicated on-going revenue stream, which enables the road to be adequately maintained and improved, independent of tax based revenues.
What do I get from using a toll road?
Toll roads are built and maintained to the highest possible standards. Therefore you are ensured of a smooth ride, saving you on the running costs of your vehicle and saving you time. Improved security ensures you a safe and pleasant journey. Tolls ensure that funding is available much sooner, for adding highway capacity at the right time thereby relieving congestion, reducing losses in time and productivity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Zambians should understand four realities about the transportation infrastructure situation facing us. First, the time for continuous expansion of the capacity of road networks is reaching saturation point and new ways of managing traffic and infrastructure should be identified and implemented.
Second, public funds are not enough to sustain or maintain roads at the current or anticipated future levels based on the prevailing interest to expand traffic and the road network.
Third, borrowing to build and operate a heavily subsidized transportation infrastructure is not sustainable. Fourth, the rapid expansion of cars on our roads is simply unsustainable and becoming a strain on economic and social development.
Zambians should actually learn from other countries such as South Africa and Morocco (these were for the most part recently built) which have some of the best roads not only in Africa but the world over. Even our cash-strapped southern neighbor, Zimbabwe is implementing toll gates on major high ways. This is an indication of how successful toll gates can be given the fact that they are correctly implemented. The important thing to understand about toll gates is that, all we are interested in is seeing a good road network bearing good road markings which is a serious cause of accidents in Zambia, good signage, good road shoulders, safety precautions on roads and many other things that qualify for a good road. If a road is sold to a private or public contractor, they have to deliver this and if they fail the road is sold to the next available buyer simple as that.
By Edwin M Hatembo junior.
Posted by
wesu
October 30, 2013 at 10:13 am
we do not need them.example councils are collecting money from motorist who accounts for this money where is it used?
Mpangula Mputyu aka TeamDoraPetauke2013
October 30, 2013 at 10:37 am
Intercity Bus station collects millions daily from buses leaving the station yet they charge people for use of the toilet there.
Where does the money GO??????
The PF removed subsidies on Fuel, Fuel became expensive. Where is the saving GOING???? NO to Toll gates.
NO to Toll gates. No to Toll gates.
mwamba
October 30, 2013 at 10:42 am
MR Author,
First of all, there is Tax charged on fuel, petrol Road Levy@15% and excise duty@21% then grossed up(product value+R/levy+excise duty)*16% VAT Diesel Road levy@10% grossed up & hummer VAT then threz the issue of Road Tax on all vehicles now Toll gates, who knows what’s next. who suffers this cost? the public, Tax is too high in Zambia we can’t afford more Taxes.
two days
October 30, 2013 at 10:51 am
we well come the toll fees but then remove fuel levy and remember no pocketing the toll fees please. this monies should be used for the intendent purpose and not in individual pockets.
the gvt should also think about chingola -solwezi road. this road is in bad condition and one can not think that this is a road which links to the copper mines. its shame.
modina
October 30, 2013 at 11:42 am
Please PF author,you should first understand that other countries like south Africa the cost of fuel is very cheap because they are enjoying the subsidies but us the government has removed all the essential subsidies. No to toll gate please
two days
October 30, 2013 at 12:35 pm
by the way, where is the more money in peoples pockets when the gvt is busy milking us?
fr. Bwalwa
October 30, 2013 at 12:35 pm
Some benefits of toll gates:
* Additional finance for maintenance of roads
* Better road network
* Better roads reducing travelling time and
reduce road accidents.
* Foreign trucks and vehicles will be
contributing their share of maintenance costs.
AKABONDO
October 30, 2013 at 12:50 pm
Plus ubomba mwibala, alya mwibala. Another conduity for stealing from the public.
Zambia is not ready because of lack of alternative roads(routes) in case one has no money.
Biggie Muzo
October 30, 2013 at 3:38 pm
Gentlemen!
DRC operates Toll gates on their GRAVEL ROADS with Soilders and Police Officers by the road side under a TREE shade to serve as guards to Government Toll Collectors with no electronic system operating save for the receipt book as Toll Bills which are hand written. I have seen then build Toll Sites now and improved their trunck roads from Kasumbalesa to Tenke Fungurume, yet to get to Kolwezi. Seeing is believing than blogging without insight or first hand experience.
In South Africa, whole trunck roads are maintained from these Toll Fees and Municipal Roads are a baby of the Municipality and the Government. This works, do not be bogged down with empty debate.
abdulaye
October 30, 2013 at 4:52 pm
mwachilamo what more are you trying to steal from us poor zambians first the subsides now the toll gates what follows DICTATORSHIP
SA
October 30, 2013 at 6:22 pm
first of o all of u are villagers who hav no idea wat a toll gate is all about. wats up with zambians politicising evrything.we’ll neva develop with these brainless kind of people. nowonder even the 90days faild coz even civil servants oppose development. MILLIONS of foren traks and vehicules are passing through our taxpayers roads freely destroying them leaving a huge burden on our country. the little money we get on taxes can do other developmental projects while the toll fees can continualy maintain our roads which are carrently draining our resources. the only reason southafrica pays less on fuel is because they are not a landlocked country with no cost of transit and they hav invested alot in biofuels. so pliz support developmental ideas.
AKABONDO
October 31, 2013 at 8:33 am
All foreign vehicles pay toll fees at the entry points. Infact Zambia is one of the most expensive places for foreign cars
Mwata Kapale
October 30, 2013 at 6:59 pm
What about the road tax we pay at RTSA..SELFISH GOVT always devising a new way of stealing and oppressing its people..wait for 2016 wina azalila…wage freeze then toll fees..I miss Levy mwee!!
kaiko salim
October 30, 2013 at 7:05 pm
MR Hatembo,your explaination in this regard is collect, having lived in countries which has these
Toll gates,the problems that i have will these funds be accounted for,for instance every foreign
trucks thats moves on our roads pays Toll fee to RTC , for example the SOUTH AFRICAN,pays 205$ then
trucks from DRC and Tanzania pay 400$ and we have more than Three hundred trucks moving on our roads.
on a daly bases. but if you look at our Roads today
you would wonder were this money is used ,Because in my own understanding these money should be used
to improve our roads.
Sopho
October 31, 2013 at 1:13 am
“The important
thing to understand about toll
gates is that, all we are
interested in is seeing a good
road network bearing good
road markings which is a
serious cause of accidents in
Zambia.” Could this mean a good road network bearing good road markings causes accidents in Zambia? Rather ambiguous.
Aristide Bance
October 31, 2013 at 5:48 pm
“The important thing to understand about toll gates is that, all we are interested in is seeing a good road network bearing good road markings which is a serious cause of accidents in Zambia, good signage, good road shoulders, safety precautions on roads and many other things that qualify for a good road.” I BELIEVE THAT WAS THE SENTENCE IN THE ARTICLE MY FRIEND, YOU DECIDED TO TAKE THE FIRST PART AND LEFT OUT THE OTHER INFO HENCE IF SOMEONE READS YOUR COMMENT IT IS RATHER MISLEADING. Ba SOPHO,PLEASE LEARN TO READ AND NOT TAKE THINGS OUT OF CONTEXT.
Aristide Bance
October 31, 2013 at 5:50 pm
THE LACK OF GOOD ROAD MARKINGS IN THIS CASE MAY CAUSE ACCIDENTS
Grace
October 31, 2013 at 8:36 am
The perception that the public generally does not want to pay for things that they think should be free is not correct. Fellow citizens are generally ready to pay if they are sure they will get value for money. Toll roads will not be the first levy people will pay; currently motorists pay parking levies, marketeers pay market levies, television owners pay TV levy; the list is endless, but what do they get in return? Poor services, and one wonders how different it will be with toll roads. People are ready to pay if there is value for money as can be seen from the trend of parents removing children from government school which, they say, offer FREE Education and taking them to FEE PAYING private schools where they are assured of QUALITY.
atishani
October 31, 2013 at 8:54 am
with such comments and observations, am seeing a better tmoro for my kids, my fellow country men and women am so proud of you.
most if not all developed countries have excellent road networks due to toll gates. foreigners are able to transport very heavy equipment through zambia knowing that the charge for that o0n our roads is almost nothing hence leaving our very low cheap quality roads in a deplorable state…
yes we need toll gates, advantages as earlier stated by others outweigh the disadvantages of toll gates.
GANIZANI
October 31, 2013 at 9:55 am
We are already paying fuel levy for every litre of fuel we purchase. Where does this money go? Can the govt tell the nation how much it collects from fuel levy every month/year so that we can debate it.
Amuna Onzuna
October 31, 2013 at 10:11 am
Those complaining of subsidies should move on , its very difficult to cry over spilt milk , moreover if indeed the same removal of subsidies will help raise funds for building new roads , rails ,hospitals and schools ,then its fine. Sometimes , we shouldn’t rely too much on the government , its just like in Parent’s home we cant shupa them forever just because they brought us to this earth.
toll gates
October 31, 2013 at 10:57 am
we welcome toll gates but first remove road tax. Cause thats almost the same thing with different names.
two days
October 31, 2013 at 11:50 am
let the gvt contract a pravite company to be in charge of toll gates for it to operate simthlly but if the gvt is going to control it, then we see our hard to come money going to waste.Gvt. workers like coruption to much such that the toll fees will end up in individual pockets making them to have big bellies.
AIDS Patient
October 31, 2013 at 1:32 pm
Its all B coz of SATAna
G L HUSSEIN
October 31, 2013 at 1:58 pm
I wish to request through your media the following on road toll .
(1)how can we keep being charged tax on tax?
(2) what will happen to road tax we are paying?
(3)what will happen to fuel levy that we are paying @ 15% of all fuel purchases?
(4)why is it more expensive in Zambia compared to Zimbabwe toll for 500km return is 2us$ here k200000.00(37us$)?
(5)Do RDA know what a toll road is? as one must first build in order to charge for a product .
IT IS NOW NORMAL IN ZAMBIA TO ACCEPT WRONGLY APPLIED PROGRAMS
EG we pre pay for water which is never provided 24 hrs
we prepay ZESSCO and have unexplained power cuts and electrical appliances getting damaged with no refund.
now we will pay for roads that are already death traps in terms of safety with pot holes and uneven roads!!!!!
Mulyashi mine
October 31, 2013 at 3:02 pm
I miss ba levy not this nonsense we are being subjected to.2016 kuya bebele
two days
October 31, 2013 at 3:10 pm
G L HUSSEIN walasa, am also going to look for a plot then find someone who will be paying for me to develop it. I can assure you that our roads will never change despite us paying toll fees. Also the projected prices are very high let them start from K3 and not K10 for small cars. How much do think ZNBC is making from the TV licence? from poor programmes. Ans. quiet a lot.
Sunrise
October 31, 2013 at 4:21 pm
Good idea but offer potions of these roads to chiefs as a way of empowering them. Let them form companies , borrow money and operate these roads. I also fear a situation where when government feel they need money, they ll find some excuse to take over toll gates,put ZP to collect the money and that ll be it, PROJECT FAILED.
two days
November 1, 2013 at 12:45 pm
Sunrise, if we give this to chiefs how about those chiefs whose chiedoms are in the bush?what will happen to them?also giving ba Buju to be toll fee collectors is a hazard. anyway, lets wait and see how far it will go.