By SYLVIA MWEETWA – THE National Road Fund Agency (NRFA) yesterday launched the toll gates at Manyumbi in Kapiri Mposhi and Kafulafuta in Ndola, with Central Province Permanent Secretary Edwidge Mutale calling for accountability in the utilisation of the funds to be raised.
Ms Mutale said it was important for the NRFA to ensure that the revenue to be collected at the toll gates was properly utilised, especially that the Government had prioritised road infrastructure maintenance.
She was speaking when a team led by NRFA director of programming and evaluation Wallece Mumba paid a courtesy call on her.
Ms Mutale said the Agency should not use the money raised in the name of evaluation or meetings, but should instead channel the resources towards road works.
The permanent secretary appealed to NRFA to consider funding the expansion of the Great North Road considering the increased traffic flow that results in accidents.
She said some road accidents and loss of lives could be avoided if the road was widened.
Mr Mumba assured of the Agency’s commitment to ensuring that the money raised was put to good use considering the massive road infrastructure projects, especially the Link 8000 project currently going on.
He said the NRFA had a mandate of ensuring that it accounted for the money, and paid tribute to the public for welcoming the toll gates programme.
The toll gate at Manyumbi checkpoint was launched at 06:30 hours while the one at Kafulafuta became operational at 08:30 hours.
Meanwhile, some motorists have asked the Agency to consider speeding up the payment process to avoid unnecessary delays.