Govt Scraps Road Access Fee In Major Win For Motorists

Motorists can finally breathe a sigh of relief after the Government scrapped the Road Access Fee, ending 17 years of double-charging on the country’s roads.

Transport Minister Felix Mhona announced on Monday, 27 July, that Statutory Instrument 113 of 2026, gazetted on 24 July, has officially removed the fee with immediate effect.

The fee, introduced back in 2009 when Zimbabwe had no tolling system, had become a double tax after ZINARA rolled out tollgates across the national road network. Drivers were effectively paying twice for the same road.

Mhona said the move follows a directive by President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the first Cabinet meeting of the year, ordering all ministries to review and cut unjustifiable taxes, licences and permit fees that were choking businesses and the public.

“Since last year, Cabinet has considered and approved the review of fees charged by the Central Vehicle Registry (CVR), Road Motor Transportation (RMT) and the Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID), with particular emphasis on removing unjustifiable, duplicative or overlapping charges,” Mhona said.

“Pursuant to this directive, the Ministry has successfully rationalised all fees charged by the above-mentioned Departments, including the removal of regulatory requirements and permit charges that duplicated functions.”

Mhona described the scrapping of the Road Access Fee as a milestone in Government’s push to improve the ease of doing business and make Zimbabwe more competitive.

“The Road Access Fee became duplicative, resulting in motorists being charged twice for the same service. This duplication imposed unnecessary financial and administrative burdens on transport operators and the travelling public,” he said.

The Road Access Fee was introduced in 2009 and initially applied to foreign-registered vehicles entering Zimbabwe, at US$10 per entry payable at border posts. It was designed to contribute to road maintenance before the country had a national tolling system.

While the Road Access Fee has now been abolished, motorists still have to pay third-party insurance, carbon tax, and toll fees charged at ZINARA tollgates across the country.

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