Hooray! As tollgate fees fall
In reducing newly-introduced tollgate fees weeks into their implementation, government is set to incur a hole in the K9 billion projected revenue from the novel initiative this year.
But for motorists reeling from double digit hikes in fuel prices, utility tariffs and general rise in prices, this is an expense—incurred at Chingeni Tollgate Plaza on the busy M1—they savour saving.
The changes, pending gazetting, may come following the announcement in reduction of tollgate fees by Minister of Information Gospel Kazako at a contact and dialogue meeting with organiser of the recent demonstrations against the high cost of living, Bon Kalindo.
The revised fees could see minibuses paying K2 000 from K3 500, which is a 42 percent cut; buses parting with K5 000 instead of K8 500, translating to a 41 percent slash.
Registered taxis will also pay 41 percent less, K1 000 instead of K1 700 while ordinary vehicles that were paying K1 700 are set to pay K1 200, a cut of 29 percent.
On average, the fall in tollgate fees for the four categories averages 38 percent, if Kazako’s announcement holds.
However, Ministry of Finance spokesperson Williams Banda could not offer immediate response on the announced reductions and the extent to which the softer fees will affect revenue that is meant to maintain roads in the country.
In a separate interview yesterday, Road Fund Administration (RFA) spokesperson MasaukoMngwaluko said they were yet to get official communication on the revised fees.
“We are yet to receive official communication, but we
are unofficially aware of the government’s proposed changes. We are waiting for that and having it gazetted before it can go into application,” he said.
Meanwhile, RFA said it has rolled out a Local User Discount for all vehicles within the radius of the newly-opened Chingeni Toll Plaza on the M1.
RFA will be charging K300 per pass for light vehicles instead of the set K1 700 for other users.
Reacting to the development, a local commuter vehicle driver in Balaka, Ernest Chiphaka, applauded the reductions as it will be cheaper than the unchartered routes they were using to avoid the paying official fees at the plaza.
He said: “With the bypass road, we would pay K100 at about five or six stops so we very much welcome the development. Even though we used the bypass path, our vehicles were also heavily affected.
“So I will definitely register and hope for a smooth roll out as I look forward to yielding great profits on market days, Friday.”
To avoid paying the toll fees, some motorists were diverting from the M1 at Manjawira Trading Centre in Ntcheu passing through Mtonda to Nsipe or Kampepuza to rejoin the M1
