Zambia doubles toll fees on roads

The Zambian government on Tuesday announced a 100-percent increase in toll fees to be paid on toll roads.

Minister of Infrastructure Development and Housing Ronald Chitotela said the funds raised from the tolling gates were meant to sustain the rehabilitation of the country's roads, which have been constructed at a huge cost.

"The increment does not come as a punishment but is aimed at raising funds to maintain our roads ... Government has invested heavily in infrastructure and to maintain these roads, we need money," he told reporters during a press briefing.

The government, he said, will be raising enough funds to maintain the roads with the revised fees.

The new fees will come into effect on January 1, 2017.

Zambia launched phase-one of the tolling program in November 2013, which only targeted vehicles above 6.5 tonnes, while the second program was launched last year to cover all vehicles.

Only the Zambian leader, his vice, security and emergency vehicles are exempted from paying toll fees. Endit