by Gideon Madzikatidze/Simbarashe Sithole
NORTON – Zimbabwe’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Hon. Adv. Felix Mhona, has officially opened the Expanded Norton Toll Plaza (in Norton) which marks a significant milestone in the country’s road infrastructure development, with projections that the new (toll plaza) infrastructure will reduce congestion, enhance revenue collection and promote economic growth in the region.
In his speech, Minister Mhona highlighted the importance of tolling points in maintaining Zimbabwe’s road network, emphasising their role in collecting revenue for road maintenance and promoting seamless transit facilitation. He also announced plans to introduce All-Electronic Tolling (AET) systems, which will enable cashless transactions and reduce congestion.
“This expanded Toll Plaza will reduce travel time, enhance user experience, and minimise disruptions to traffic flow. The installation of modern payment systems and electronic tolling will not only reduce waiting times but also promote the use of cashless transactions, providing added convenience, transparency and security for all road users,” Mhona said.
“We reaffirm the Ministry’s support and guarantee transparency and our commitment to modern, electronic revenue collection systems to minimise human intervention and cash handling, thereby reducing revenue leakages. Through regular audits, parliamentary oversight, and the requirement for ZINARA to present its budgets and reports for legislative oversight, the Ministry has instituted a culture of scrutiny, demanding clear justification for fund disbursements and project outcomes to rebuild public trust in the road administration sector,” Mhona added.
The Expanded Norton Toll Plaza is part of the government’s efforts to improve Zimbabwe’s transport infrastructure, aligning with the National Development Strategy 1 and Vision 2030 targets. Minister Mhona praised the ZINARA Board and management for their efforts in delivering the project and urged stakeholders to continue working towards improving the country’s road network.
The commissioning of the toll plaza is expected to have a positive impact on the local economy, attracting businesses and creating jobs. Minister Mhona also emphasised the importance of road safety, urging drivers to prioritise safety during the festive season.
Mhona said looking forward to 2026, the commissioning sets a positive tone for what lies ahead as it signals the government’s dedication to continuously improving roads, boosting productivity and ensuring that there are right tools to meet the demands of a growing and dynamic society.
“Once again, as NDS 2 and Year 2026 beckon, I wish to reiterate the need for us to do more in this sphere of rehabilitation, expansion and construction of Toll Plazas,” Mhona further said.
Meanwhile, Mr George Mufuka, the country operations manager for InstaToll Zimbabwe said as an operator (InstaToll) road network system should enable motorists and all traveller to do their business easily.
“So as InstaToll, we make sure that the infrastructure established commensurate with the expected economic prospects of everyone. We complement this using modern day technologies and make sure that there is ease of doing business and eliminate all forms on inconsistencies in terms of revenue leakages or unnecessary delays through establishing comprehensive, but flexible facilities,” Mufuka said.