Zimbabwe’s chiefs are exempted from paying toll gate fees but only if they are using their official vehicles, Transport Minister Obert Mpofu told the Senate last week.
“The whole idea is to make it simple for our chiefs to go through toll gates. But, it becomes a challenge when you are in a bus. It becomes a bit difficult to deal with that because we are charging the bus not the passengers,” Mpofu said.
“It also becomes a challenge when you use a vehicle which is not your official vehicle because the whole system is computerized and it has got a record as to what vehicle is driven by which chief.
“So, if you use a relative’s vehicle, there is a challenge and the challenge will now have to result in a direct argument or engagement with the staff in those cubicles, which is not encouraged because we do not want them to talk to anybody.
“They just have to look at your status and then they will allow you to pass if you have got that exemption or look at the vehicle from their computer because all vehicles in the country are registered in that computer.
“ If you are not registered, the machine will tell you that you are not registered and then there will be other issues that will be raised as result of non registration of those vehicles.”
Q & A:
SENATOR CHIEF NYAMUKOHO: I have a question directed to the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development. As one of the chiefs of Zimbabwe, we have suffered very much from the staff at toll gates in a manner that is definitely degrading in some instances. Can we hear from the Minister, a system we can follow once and for all so that we can maintain our dignity and have relations that are acceptable with the members of staff that are at the toll gates –[HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.]-
THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. MPOFU): Thank you Madam President, I want to thank the hon. senator chief who raised the question. The Government’s position is that the chiefs have to be given the respect that they deserve. In fact, this is not the position of Government but it is the position of the entirety of our population. If there has been any instances where our chiefs have been mistreated or mishandled at toll gates or when they pass through the toll gate, I would like to apologize to our chiefs for that –[HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.]- It is not the intention and I am not aware of that. In fact, I have not been apprised of the challenges that our traditional chiefs are subjected to as they pass the toll gates. I would appreciate Madam President, a specific example of this maltreatment so that I can rectify it. We have allowed a situation where our traditional chiefs are allowed to go through; they have got a special dispensation to go through our toll gates. If the system that we have introduced to allow our chiefs to be exempted from this facility, let me know hon. senator about the exact challenges that you face when you are going through this process so that we can improve it.
I think the whole idea is to make it simple for our chiefs to go through toll gates. But, it becomes a challenge when you are in a bus. It becomes a bit difficult to deal with that because we are charging the bus not the passengers. It also becomes a challenge when you use a vehicle which is not your official vehicle because the whole system is computerized and it has got a record as to what vehicle is driven by which chief. So, if you use a relative’s vehicle, there is a challenge and the challenge will now have to result in a direct argument or engagement with the staff in those cubicles, which is not encouraged because we do not want them to talk to anybody. They just have to look at your status and then they will allow you to pass if you have got that exemption or look at the vehicle from their computer because all vehicles in the country are registered in that computer. If you are not registered, the machine will tell you that you are not registered and then there will be other issues that will be raised as result of non registration of those vehicles.
I want to say again that we want to apologise most sincerely to our traditional leaders for the inconveniences caused if that is the case. I thank you Madam President.
SENATOR TAWENGWA: I want to just assist the chief though I am not a chief yet. – [Laughter]- Hon Minister, is it possible for the chief to register more than one vehicle for exemption?
DR. MPOFU: Thank you Madam President, and I want to thank my colleague Senator Tawengwa. It is possible but the current situation is that we only register one vehicle. I know chiefs and there is a tradition; I also belong to a royalty. We have an – [Laughter]- appetite of having more than one wife. That can be arranged and if it is certified by the Council of Chiefs, we can actually look into that but I know Senator Tawengwa would not qualify because he is neither a Chief nor from a royal family -[Laughter]- we will look at whatever proposal comes, at least to make our traditional leaders comfortable. Thank you.
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