Angola has inaugurated a toll post at the Luvo border crossing with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with authorities saying revenue collected will be channelled into the maintenance and rehabilitation of national roads in Zaire Province and beyond.
Agostinho Dias Zantoto, administrator of Luvo municipality, told reporters after the official opening of the facility that the toll station would significantly boost government revenue and, by extension, improve road infrastructure across the province.
"We will all benefit from the installation of toll posts, particularly in the maintenance of national roads," Zantoto said.
The administrator said the rollout of toll infrastructure across key road corridors nationwide would give the government greater capacity to continuously improve living conditions for the population, especially the movement of people and goods.
Zantoto also called for sustained public awareness campaigns to educate road users on the importance of paying tolls and their role in funding road upkeep.
"Because this is something new for our country compared to other regions, we must continue to raise awareness and educate our population about the importance of toll revenue for the General State Budget," he said.
Mayangui Bernardo, a truck driver who has been operating the international Angola-Namibia-DRC route through the Luvo border crossing in Zaire Province for 16 years, welcomed the introduction of tolls, expressing hope that revenue collected would translate into tangible road improvements.
"For example, the Mbanza Kongo to Luvo road has sections in a poor state of repair. I believe that with the revenue generated from toll payments, conditions could improve," Bernardo said.
Simão Panzo António, head of the motorcycle riders' association in Luvo municipality, said the measure was designed to support the government's road maintenance obligations, and pledged to raise awareness among the association's 300 members in Luvo about the importance of paying tolls to preserve road infrastructure.
He said he would sensitise all 300 motorbike operators in the municipality on the importance of paying the toll fees for the upkeep of the road network.
Pedro José, a truck driver on the South Africa-Angola-DRC route, noted that toll payments were standard practice in the other countries along his route and expressed hope that funds collected in Angola would be effectively allocated to road rehabilitation.
"The stretch from Kivola to the municipal headquarters of Nóqui, for example, is nearly impassable. It is one of the main access routes to the DRC and to Angola's Cabinda Province. It urgently needs intervention," José said.
Toll charges at the Luvo post range from 2,500 kwanzas to 85,000 kwanzas per crossing, depending on vehicle size and weight.
Motorcycles with engines up to 125 cubic centimetres are charged 2,500 kwanzas per crossing, while vehicles weighing between 750 kilogrammes and 3.5 tonnes pay 15,000 kwanzas.
Vehicles with a gross weight between 3.5 tonnes and 16 tonnes are taxed at 43,000 kwanzas, while those exceeding 16 tonnes face a toll of 85,000 kwanzas per crossing.
The border municipality of Luvo lies 60 kilometres north of Mbanza Kongo city and serves as a key transit corridor for heavy goods vehicles travelling between Angola, the DRC and the Angolan enclave of Cabinda.
Source: ANGOP / Original article: https://www.angop.ao/noticias/economia/administrador-do-luvo-realca-impacto-de-portagens-na-melhoria-das-estradas/
