The Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) recorded a 24% increase in revenue in 2025 compared with the previous year, surpassing its annual target by 8.6%, as the roads authority reported progress in debt reduction, financial accountability and the modernisation of tolling infrastructure.

Presenting the organisation’s performance at its 10th Annual General Meeting in Harare, chief executive officer Nkosinathi Ncube attributed the revenue growth partly to currency stability while outlining plans to expand vehicle licensing compliance and strengthen revenue mobilisation.

“We surpassed our 2025 revenue target by 8.6%, with revenue 24% above the previous year,” Ncube said.

He said ZINARA was targeting to reach the one-million vehicle licensing mark within the next two weeks as it intensifies efforts to bring more motorists into the formal licensing system.

“We are targeting to reach the one-million vehicle licensing mark within the next two weeks,” Ncube said.

The target comes as ZINARA seeks to broaden its revenue base and improve compliance, with vehicle licensing and tolling remaining key sources of funding for the country’s road infrastructure.

Ncube also highlighted progress in tolling technology, revealing that more than 24 tollgates were now e-tag-enabled, while 48 tollgates across the country had been upgraded with additional lanes.

“These developments are aimed at improving operational efficiency, enhancing revenue collection and providing greater convenience to motorists,” he said.

The upgrades are expected to improve traffic flow at tolling points while strengthening the administration’s capacity to collect and account for revenue.

Meanwhile, ZINARA board chairman George Manyaya said the organisation had made significant progress in strengthening its financial position, including clearing its Development Bank of Southern Africa loan and improving road authorities’ capacity to undertake maintenance works.

“The provision of equipment to road authorities enables them to undertake road maintenance works in-house,” Manyaya said.

He said the initiative was part of broader efforts to strengthen road authorities’ capacity to maintain the country’s road network while improving the utilisation of resources allocated to infrastructure development.

Manyaya also highlighted improvements in corporate governance, saying ZINARA had obtained clean external audit opinions for 2023 and 2024.

“The attainment of clean external audit opinions for 2023 and 2024 reflects deliberate reforms aimed at strengthening internal controls, promoting transparency and entrenching a culture of accountability across the organisation,” he said.

He added that ZINARA had intensified efforts to plug revenue leakages through improved systems, technology and enforcement.

“Our focus is to ensure that every dollar collected is accounted for and channelled towards its intended purpose of maintaining and rehabilitating the country’s road network,” Manyaya said.

The emphasis on accountability comes as ZINARA seeks to demonstrate that increased revenue collection is translating into stronger financial management and more effective support for road maintenance.

Presenting the finance report, finance director Adam Zvandasara said the organisation had more than doubled its revenue collections over the past five years, while the proportion of revenue disbursed had increased significantly.

“The ratio of disbursements has grown to 73% of revenue, up from 49% in 2021,” Zvandasara said.

He said the improved financial position had enabled ZINARA to reduce its outstanding debt by 38.5%, strengthening the foundation for a more sustainable Road Fund.

“The reduction in outstanding debt by 38.5% strengthens the organisation’s financial position and lays the foundation for a more sustainable Road Fund,” he said.

The increase in disbursements represents a key measure of ZINARA’s capacity to channel collected revenue towards road authorities responsible for maintaining and rehabilitating the national road network.