NRFA building a homegrown sustainable National Road Tolling, says Engineer Wallece Mumba
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By Derrick Sinjela published in The Rainbow Newspaper Zambia Limited on Page 7 in Issue Number 067 March 23-29, 2020 www.rainbownewszambia.com
NATIONAL Road Fund Agency (NRFA) Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Engineer Wallece Mumba says the overall implementation of the National Road Tolling Programme (NRTP) as a home grown solution to sustainable road maintenance is attested by a local contribution at K 2.7 billion raised while foreign was at 76 per cent K3.4 billion was received from external contributions.
Engineer Mumba is elated that the National Road Fund Agency team in 2019 recorded a 90 per cent budget target performance, now a global brand with many countries seeking counsel from Zambia.
Alluding to the NRFA Act 13 of 2002, whose three pillars are; resource mobilisation, fiduciary management of resources and value for money, Engineer Mumba explained that the agency appointed the Road Development Agency (RDA) to construct toll gates, after which the NRFA manage it by recruiting employees and overall operation in regard to billing motorists at all the 36 countrywide points.
Picture: NRFA Director/CEO Eng. Wallece Mumba receives President Edgar Lungu, accompanied by Northern Province Minister Brian Mundubile (l) and Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Christopher Yaluma(r) at the NRFA Stand at the ongoing Northern Province Investment Expo.
Explained Engineer Mumba: “We are the resource envelope for all road projects and related activities in Zambia. We are guided by the Public Finance Management Act Number 1 of 2018, as it relates to the management and control of public finances. We have a proud record of unqualified audited accounts from the time we were created in 2006.”
Engineer Mumba says for 14 years since its establishment, the National Road Fund Agency local revenue streams include fuel Levy, road tax, weighbridge fees and fines, tools and Government Direct Appropriations (GDA’s), while externally getting loans and grants from cooperating partners.
“We allocate resources to the Road Development Agency (RDA), the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA), the Ministry of Local Government for construction, rehabilitation, maintenance, road safety, education and regulation, and to the National Council for Construction (NCC) for capacity building programmes,” noted Engineer Mumba and expressed delight following a National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) K1.8 billion support.
The Road Fund Act No. 2 of of 2002 and is in line with the National Road Fund Agency’s ‘Mission‘ “To proactively mobilise resources and effectively manage and administer the Road Fund in a transparent and sustainable way to ensure value for money and stimulate socio-economic development.”
Engineer Mumba attributed the increase in vehicle passages in 2019 as compared to 2018 to the eight (8) additional Toll Stations operationalized in the Southern, Copperbelt, Luapula, Muchinga and Western Provinces of Zambia, as Inland Toll Stations (ITS) rose to twenty-four (24) compared to sixteen (16) Toll Stations as at December 2918.
NRFA Public Relations Manager Alphonsius Hamachila
Engineer Mumba named Wilson Mofya Chakulya, between Kitwe and Chingola, Chilonga between Serenje and Mpika, Daniel Mukombwe between Batoka and Choma, Enoch Kavindele between Chingola and Solwezi, Mpingwe between Luansobe and Mpongwe, Ntoposhi between Mansa and Chipili as additional Toll Gates.
Showering praise on National Road Fund Agency (NRFA) Public Relations Manager Alphosius Hamachila, for hosting a Public Relations Officer from their counterparts in Malawi.
“Kenya has dared us that if we sit on our performance laurels, the Kenyans are clearly plotting to unseat our mentorship,” teased Engineer Mumba.
The National Savings & Credit BankBank (NATSAVE) and the National Pensions Savings Agency (NAPSA) are helping us raise more money and both the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the Bank of Zambia (BoZ) led by Governor Dr. Denny Kalyalya are engaging us.
Engineer Mumba says Malawi, is taking a copy and paste approach; Mozambique opened two toll Gates, Namibia, Lesotho, Madagascar and Mauritius, Kenya and Burundi continue to get mentorship from the National Road Fund Agency.
Engineer Mumba says the agency will continue to insure infrastructure so as to achieve road and bridges that remain in good stead.
NRFA Director Road Tolling Daniel Mtonga says K1.6 billion is expected to be raised from January 2020 to December 2020, and a total of 8,500 electronic cards have been used as a consequence of a cashless billing mechanism.
Mr. Mtonga says the National Road Fund Agency raised K116 million through the cashless mechanism.
The Lusaka Hotel Entrance from Cairo Road
Ms. Muyunda Sakala says no losses we’re recorded in 2019 aside from amounts owed to local and foreign contractors. Published in The Rainbow Newspaper Zambia Limited on Page 7 in Issue Number 067 March 23-29, 2020 www.rainbownewszambia.com “Promoting Diversity in News Coverage”
