HARARE – Roads agency ZINARA, which collects fuel levies, licencing and toll fees on the country’s major highways, says it paid ZWG 4.7 billion (US$224.9 million) to local authorities in 2024 for road maintenance.

In a statement on Thursday, ZINARA said the money given to road authorities is 88 percent of what it collected.

It also provided 1,942,480 litres of diesel to the councils “for the first time complementing financial disbursements and addressing critical operational challenges,” it said.

From 23,000km of road network maintained in 2023, ZINARA said it had managed to bring this up to 37,000km in 2024.

ZINARA CEO Nkosinathi Ncube said: “For 2024, road authorities accessed about 90 percent of their budget allocation, a first in many years.

“We increased support to local authorities to enable them to utilise their equipment and increase operational efficiencies by providing 1,942,480 litres of diesel.

“ZINARA has proven that it is possible to be a transparent and financially stable state entity that contributes positively to national projects.”

Local authorities are largely dissatisfied with the resources allocated by ZINARA, with most local roads in need of an overhaul after years of neglect and rain damage. But ZINARA data shows that some councils neglected to draw down on their ZINARA allocations. Only 63 out of 94 local authorities used up 100 percent of their allocations.

Chinhoyi was allocated ZWG 3,865,283 but had only used ZWG 346,373 at the end of December reflecting a utilisation rate of 9 percent. Similarly, Chegutu (33 percent), Bikita (38 percent) and Ruwa (51 percent) inexplicably failed to fully utilise the money.

Local authorities in Manicaland and Mashonaland East provinces had a 100 percent utilisation rates. Harare had used up 95 percent, Bulawayo 71 percent, Gweru 55 percent and Masvingo 71 percent.

ZINARA is targeting to disburse ZWG 11.6 billion for road maintenance in 2025, which would be a marked improvement on 2024.

Toll fees contributed the largest chunk of ZINARA’s revenues in 2024 with ZWG 2.8 billion followed by vehicle licencing fees with ZWG 2.3 billion, fuel levies of ZWG 727 million and transit fees of ZWG 552 million.

ZINARA credits “improved operational efficiency” for its improved total collections of ZWG 6.6 billion (about US$346.3 million).

CLICK HERE for 2024 Schedule of Payments by ZINARA to 94 Road Authorities