3 more tollgates on cards
Government through the Road Funds Administration will spend atleast K8.9 billion for the construction of three tollgates which will be constructed this year in the Central and Northern Regions.
Malawi had the first Tollgate Plaza which was commissioned in October last year at Chingeni in Balaka, followed by the Kalinyeke Tollgate Plaza in Dedza. The two have raked in K1.9 billion as of May 31,2022.
While the administration is yet to ascertain the actual places of the tollgates, RFA spokesperson Masauko Mgwaluko has told us today that they are eyeing for Jenda in Mzimba, Mchinji and Salima as potential areas.
Mngwaluko said processes of procuring a consultant are already at an advanced stage.
“We already have money in the budget which will be used for construction because we already bought the equipment last year. There is a joint team between Roads Authority and Roads Fund Administration on the exact location of the toll gates because what we have are just potential sites. So once they confirm we will proceed with those places,” he said.
Commenting on the development, Civil Society Accountability and Transparency Executive Director Willy Kambwandira said the government should first of all demonstrate accountability on the two toll gates.
“They should first demonstrate what the two toll gates are capable of doing in terms of projects, we have heard how much money has been collected but we have not seen how that money is being used. They cannot just continue constructing more toll gates, we need to appreciate the benefits because if anything they have only demonstrated how people are stealing funds generated from the toll gates,” he said.
The toll gates are being constructed as one way of raising additional funds for the maintenance and rehabilitation of roads in the country.
