The Road Fund has assumed full responsibility for the collection and administration of border crossing fees, commonly known as toll fees, marking a significant institutional shift aimed at strengthening public financial management and improving service delivery at Lesotho’s border posts.
The transition, which takes effect on July 1, 2026, transfers the function from Revenue Services Lesotho (RSL) back to the Road Fund as part of broader government reforms designed to enhance efficiency, accountability and coordination in the financing of road infrastructure.
Officials say the move will consolidate revenue collection and administration under a single institution, enabling better oversight of funds generated through road user charges while simplifying services for motorists entering and leaving the country.
The development was outlined during a recent stakeholder workshop convened by the Road Fund to explain the objectives of the transition and prepare employees who will be responsible for implementing the new system.
The workshop also served as the launch of a week-long training programme for staff who will be deployed to border posts across the country once the transfer becomes operational.
According to Road Fund officials, the transition is anchored in Lesotho’s legal and policy framework governing road user charges.
Under its mandate, the Road Fund is responsible for mobilising, managing and accounting for revenue dedicated to the maintenance and development of the national road network. Bringing toll fee collection under its direct control is therefore intended to align operational responsibilities with its statutory obligations.
Officials noted that the reform is expected to improve accountability by placing both revenue collection and revenue management under one institution.
“This transition will make it easier for road users to access services from a single point, without the back-and-forth communication that existed before,” an official noted.
The Road Fund believes the arrangement will eliminate duplication, reduce administrative bottlenecks and improve responsiveness to motorists and transport operators who use the country’s border facilities.
As part of the implementation process, the Road Fund is training 52 pioneer employees who will be deployed to strategic border posts nationwide.
The training programme is designed to equip staff with operational skills, customer service standards and institutional procedures necessary to manage toll collection effectively under the new framework.
Once deployed, the employees will be stationed at some of Lesotho’s busiest border crossings, including Maseru Bridge, Ficksburg Bridge, Peka Bridge, Caledonspoort, Sani Top, Van Rooyen’s Gate, Makhaleng Bridge, Tele Bridge and Qacha’s Nek.
These officers will be responsible for handling toll transactions, assisting motorists, maintaining operational records and ensuring smooth implementation of the new system.
The Road Fund said the staff would play a critical role in safeguarding revenue collection while delivering consistent and efficient customer service at the country’s key entry and exit points.
The latest reform effectively returns a function that was previously managed by the Road Fund before being transferred to Revenue Services Lesotho in 2011.
Border toll fee collection had originally been administered by the Road Fund from 2001. However, the responsibility was later moved to RSL, largely because of the tax authority’s established operational presence and administrative capacity at border posts.
Officials said the decision to return the function to the Road Fund followed assessments indicating that a single institution directly overseeing both collection and administration would improve revenue completeness, strengthen accountability and streamline operational processes.
While acknowledging the successful collaboration between the two institutions over the years, officials said the revised arrangement would provide stronger oversight and clearer lines of responsibility.
The Road Fund also expressed appreciation to Revenue Services Lesotho for its role in managing toll collections over the past decade and a half.
Under the new arrangement, the Road Fund will assume full responsibility for collecting toll fees at all designated border posts, administering the revenue collected, providing customer support related to toll payments and producing accountability reports in accordance with legal requirements.
Authorities have emphasised that motorists and transport operators should not expect any changes to existing toll charges.
A joint statement issued by the Road Fund and RSL confirmed that current fee structures will remain unchanged unless officially communicated through appropriate channels.
The two institutions also assured the public that services at border posts would continue uninterrupted during and after the transition period.
To ensure a smooth handover, both organisations have been working closely on operational, technological and administrative arrangements ahead of the effective transfer date.
The Road Fund says the reform forms part of government’s broader efforts to improve public financial management systems while ensuring sustainable financing for road maintenance and infrastructure development.
By bringing collection and administration functions under one authority, policymakers expect greater transparency in how toll revenues are managed and utilised for road infrastructure projects.
“This reform is ultimately about improving efficiency, accountability, and service to Basotho at all border posts,” officials said.
Summary
- The Road Fund has assumed full responsibility for the collection and administration of border crossing fees, commonly known as toll fees, marking a significant institutional shift aimed at strengthening public financial management and improving service delivery at Lesotho’s border posts.
- The transition, which takes effect on July 1, 2026, transfers the function from Revenue Services Lesotho (RSL) back to the Road Fund as part of broader government reforms designed to enhance efficiency, accountability and coordination in the financing of road infrastructure.
- The development was outlined during a recent stakeholder workshop convened by the Road Fund to explain the objectives of the transition and prepare employees who will be responsible for implementing the new system.
Seabata Mahao is a general news reporter with special focus on Business and Sports. Started working at Newsday in 2021. Working in a team with a shared goal is what I enjoy most and that gives me the motivation to work under any environment leading to growth.
