Roads Fund Administration (RFA) Public Relations Masauko Mngwaluko has asked Malawians to embrace tollgates since they can help in mobilizing funds which can be used in road maintenance activities.
Mngwaluko said this on Wednesday in Dowa where the organisation engaged the District Executive Committee to orient them on a new toll gate project to be constructed in the district.
“The site we have identified is Nkhamanga which is around 7 to 8 kilometres from Mponela heading to Kasungu.
“We are currently in the process of acquiring land and settle all compensation related issues, and for our implementing partner (Roads Authority) to acquire consultants for designs and other technicalities,” he said.
According to Mngwaluko, the project will use the rehabilitation works so that the section of the road should be constructed under the M1 project in terms of surface preparation.
“As a country we are struggling because almost 85 percent of the funds is from the fuel levy and tolling is a new sure way of raising the funds. We are looking at the user taking charge of the responsibility of maintaining the road by contributing something on the arrangement called User-Pay Principle,” he added.
Dowa Director of Administration, Thomas Mwafongo, said the tollgate will bring many benefits like revenue collection, boost of local businesses around the facility which will eventually lead to job creation.
Currently, the country has operational toll gates at Kalinyeke in Dedza and Chingeni in Ntcheu.
