By Chisomo Phiri
A 96 percent increase in toll revenue has been recorded by the Roads Fund Administration (RFA), signalling improved road maintenance financing following recent toll tariff adjustments and fuel levy reforms.
This was disclosed on Monday during a press briefing at the RFA headquarters in Lilongwe, where officials provided updates on revenue performance, funding reforms, and ongoing road rehabilitation programmes.
RFA Tolling Operations Manager Dalitso Kadzamira said the institution collected K1.8 billion between January and March 2026, up from K920 million during the same period in 2025.
He said the increase reflects the impact of revised toll tariffs introduced in January 2026, which were designed to strengthen sustainable financing for road maintenance.
“The increase in collections reflects the impact of the revised toll structure introduced in January 2026, which was designed to strengthen sustainable financing for road maintenance,” said Kadzamira.
Despite the improved performance, Kadzamira acknowledged that some sections of the road network remain in poor condition and still require urgent rehabilitation.
“We recognise that parts of the road network are still deteriorated and require urgent rehabilitation,” he said.
He added that the RFA, in collaboration with the Roads Authority, has already committed K50 billion toward sectional rehabilitation works, particularly along the M1 road.
He said additional projects worth K17 billion are currently at contract negotiation stage, with contractors expected to mobilise within a month and that pothole patching works are also underway as a short-term intervention while major rehabilitation progresses in phases.
On his part,RFA Director of Finance Alex Makhwatha said improved funding inflows have restored momentum in road maintenance programmes that had previously been affected by funding constraints.
He noted that parts of the M1 deteriorated due to early funding shortfalls following the introduction of tolling in 2021, compounded by a 40 percent reduction in toll rates shortly after implementation.
Makhwatha said this affected revenue projections that had been based on feasibility studies meant to support both operations and sustainable maintenance.
He added that government has since introduced a 100 percent increase in toll tariffs effective January 2026, alongside a major adjustment in fuel levy allocations from about K126 per litre for petrol and K123 for diesel to K506 and K503 respectively.
“The recent policy adjustments have restored the financial capacity needed to support road maintenance and rehabilitation programmes,”said Makhwatha .
He further disclosed that K50 billion has been allocated for rehabilitation works along the M1 corridor to restore deteriorated sections of the road.
Makhwatha said toll revenues are being ring-fenced in line with government directives to ensure they are used strictly for maintenance of tolled roads.
Looking ahead, he said the RFA plans to expand the tolling network, with four new tollgates expected in the 2026/27 financial year at Mkamanga in Mponela, Dowa District, Gwayi in Nkhamenya in Kasungu, Chileka on the Lilongwe–Mchinji Road, and Naluva on the Lilongwe–Salima Road.
He said the expansion is aimed at strengthening long-term funding for road maintenance and improving the overall condition of Malawi’s national road network.
