Shurugwi Residents Reject Proposed New Tollgate Along Mhandamabwe Road

Traditional leaders and residents in Shurugwi District have voiced strong opposition to government plans to construct a new tollgate along the recently rehabilitated Mhandamabwe–Shurugwi Road, arguing that the project would unfairly burden local communities and motorists.

The proposed tollgate, planned near the Musavezi River and the Makotosi turn-off, would sit less than 30 kilometres from two existing toll plazas along the same highway. Officials from the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) announced the proposal during a stakeholder consultation meeting held last Friday at the Tongogara Rural District Council boardroom.

If approved, the development would create one of the densest concentrations of tollgates in Zimbabwe along a relatively short stretch of road. Motorists travelling from Gweru would first pass through the existing Guinea Fowl tollgate approximately 20 kilometres into the journey.

Drivers would then encounter the proposed Musavezi River tollgate at around the 50-kilometre mark, before reaching the already existing Mhandamabwe tollgate roughly 40 kilometres further along the route.

Residents at the meeting expressed anger over what they described as excessive tolling within a single district. One resident argued that it was unfair for communities in Shurugwi to shoulder a disproportionate financial burden in raising national road maintenance revenue.

Chief Nhema, born Munetsi Ngere, warned that the tollgate would negatively affect villagers carrying out basic daily activities. He said local residents travelling short distances to business centres, churches or nearby relatives would be forced to repeatedly pay toll fees.

“Apart from daily hustles with these tollgates, our children who come home for holidays will be restricted from driving locally and visiting relatives, going to business centres to meet friends or to churches,” said Chief Nhema.

The traditional leader also questioned promises made by officials regarding discounts and local road maintenance support.

“These are just promises. We know that after establishing the tollgate, you are not going to come back and talk about those discounts or to give us money to maintain our roads,” he said.

Ward 18 Councillor Stewart Tavagwisa warned that the tollgate could disrupt economic activity in the district, particularly construction projects relying on sand extraction from the Musavezi River. He said transport operators moving river sand for housing developments would be forced to pay toll fees multiple times, increasing construction costs for local residents. The concerns triggered widespread rejection of the proposal during the meeting, with many residents demanding the government reconsider the location or abandon the plan altogether.

Speaking on behalf of Ministry of Transport engineer Stephen Kamutema, Kenneth Sakupwanya defended the proposed tollgate, saying traffic volumes had significantly increased following the rehabilitation of the Mhandamabwe–Shurugwi Road two years ago. He argued that revenue generated from the tollgate would help fund road maintenance projects within the district.

Sakupwanya also said residents living within a 10-kilometre radius of the proposed site could apply for discounted toll fees. However, many attendees remained unconvinced, accusing authorities of failing to adequately consult affected communities before advancing the project.

The proposed tollgate has now sparked wider debate about road user costs, infrastructure funding and the growing number of toll plazas across Zimbabwe’s major highways.

Shurugwi tollgate