Abstract
D.Litt. et Phil.
The study analysed the effectiveness of road tolling-systems as a revenue-collection instrument in Zimbabwe. As such it examined the deadlock between the revenue generated and current backlog in road construction and maintenance in Zimbabwe. It aimed to assess whether road-tolling systems are effective instruments for mobilising revenue to recoup the costs of building, operating and maintaining road infrastructure. Revenue performance was rated according to the internal and external dimensions of toll revenue, which revolve around activities such as toll revenue collection, administration (remittance) as well as the Zimbabwe National Road Administration’s (ZINARA’s) distribution and usage of the toll revenue.
The thesis conceptualised and contextualised the theory, models, technologies and practice of toll revenue collection in Zimbabwe by way of a mixed methods research design, which triangulates both quantitative and qualitative methodologies and data collection techniques.
The study found that that the Zimbabwean road tolling model that combines several attributes of electronic collection (ETC) and manual toll collection (MTC) to create a hybrid conventional tolling model with automated boom-down mechanisms is a progressive, effective and reliable tool to raise revenue for constructing road infrastructure and related road-related capital investments in Zimbabwe. Notably, internal toll revenue performance is up-to-date, as the computerisation process has mitigated toll revenue leakages and increased toll revenue yield. However, the study found no balance between the high toll revenues that are being collected in terms of the proportional development of the road network. As such, the performance of external toll revenue is questionable and trunk roads and national highways are in a deplorable state.
The thesis recommended that the collection, management, remittance and usage of toll fees should be stipulated in legislation, that toll revenue usage should be earmarked for road infrastructure investment, stakeholder involvement improved and mechanisms to be accountable to Parliament put in place.