The National Road Fund Agency – NRFA has projected a reduction in the collection of toll fees across the country for the year 2020 in view of the COVID – 19 pandemic. Toll fees have of late become a key revenue line for the Zambian treasury as a non-tax revenue.
NRFA Public Relations Manager Alphonsius Hamachila told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT in an exclusive interview on April 06, 2020 that the agency will not be able to meet its target of K1.6 billion this year attributing the decrease to the low traffic volumes so far recorded in the period of COVID – 19 across the country.
He added that the current health guidelines call for people to stay home. Truckers, motorists and travelers in general have been confined to staying home to curb the spread of the coronavirus, hence this will have a negative impact on the collection of tolls.
Hamachila said despite the move impacting negatively on the country’s revenue generation, it is a necessary requirement in mitigation further spread of COVID 19 adding that if the situation is left unattended to, it would further affect public health and weaken the country’s economy.
He further explained that the agency will give its revised projected revenue for this year after taking COVID – 19 impact into consideration, and that a reduction in toll fee collections is likely to be recorded.
“Right now, we can’t give accurate figures of how much we project to collect because it’s not yet clear on how long COVID – 19 situation will last. But what is clear is that it has negatively affected our ability to meet the target for this year and if the situation persists, the agency may project a further reduction in its revenues for 2020, however a full assessment will be conducted post this situation“ he added.
Hamachila also disclosed that the agency has plans to roll out new toll gates across the country after the COVID – 19 situation stabilizes. “For our 2020 work plan, we intend to put up toll gates in different places which include Mansa – Samfya road, Zimba – Livingstone road, Kapiri – Mkushi road, Petauke – Katete road and Nyimba – Petauke road,” he added.
Meanwhile, the agency had for the year 2019 collected over K1.2 billion in toll fees surpassing the initial target of K1 billion for the year 2019. The increase in toll gates collections was attributed to additional toll gates in the country bringing the total number to about 24.
