News / National
Fake new vehicle licence discs floods Zimbabwe
12 Jun 2012 at 05:04hrs | Views
BACKDOOR dealers have already started producing fake vehicle licence discs amid revelations that the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) is pushing for stiffer prison sentences for those found with counterfeits.
During a familiarisation tour of the organisation's new computerised vehicle licencing system at Zinara House in Harare yesterday, Minister of Transport, Communication and Infrastructural Development, Nicholas Goche, was shown samples of the fake discs.
He was also told that about 220 000 vehicles were registered in the 10 days before the expiry of the 31 May deadline while only about 30 000 have been registered in the 10 days since the extension of the deadline to 30 June.
The Central Vehicle Registry estimates that there are about 800 000 vehicles on the country's roads.
Addressing journalists after the tour, Minister Goche warned motorists, who had bought fake discs, that the new computerised system being used by Zinara would detect the discs at roadblocks.
"Zinara has bought portable scanners that will detect fake discs on the spot.
"They have been issued to the police, who will use them on the country's roads to identify fake discs and arrest the culprits.
"The new system will flush out all counterfeit discs," said Minister Goche.
He could not be drawn to reveal the number of fake discs suspected to be in circulation.
Minister Goche warned that the registration deadline would not be extended beyond 30 June.
"Since the extension, queues have disappeared from Zimpost outlets this gives the impression that people are waitingfor 29 June to start rushing to register, meaning they would fail to beat the deadline," he said.
The Minister said if there were queues at registering outlets every day, a further extension might have been considered.
In an interview after the address, Zinara chief executive officer, Mr Frank Chitukutuku said the organisation was pushing for sentences of up to five years for those found with forged discs.
"We are calling for deterrent sentences of up to five years for offenders. All along it has been difficult to differentiate between genuine and fake discs.
"Now that we can easily tell the difference, we are pushing for the arrest of motorists who buy fake discs, including those who make them," said Mr Chitukutuku.
He said last year, five people were arrested for printing fake discs and were each sentenced to three years in prison.
Zimpost managing director Mr Douglas Zimbango urged motorists to bear with the organisation as it worked to clear queues.
"We have re-organised ourselves and have put specific queues for Zinara discs. We are no longer mixing them with other Zimpost business.
Motorists should also note that licencing outlets were reduced from about 252 in the country to only 50," said Mr Zimbango.
Last week, Police Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri allayed fears by motorists that they would be arrested for failing to display valid licence discs, after Zinara suddenly cancelled the extension barely a week after announcing it.
He said police would only start asking for the discs after 30 June.
Zinara spokesperson, Mr Augustine Moyo had announced that police were to start arresting motorists without valid discs soon after the cancellation of the extension of the deadline.
Zinara introduced new licence discs with more security features as a measure to plug the production of fake discs.
Counterfeiting reportedly cost Zinara more than $20 million in potential revenue yearly.
The new system also aims to establish and capture the actual number of vehicles on Zimbabwe's roads.
Zinara also revealed that it was collecting about $5 million every year from about 300 000 vehicles, instead of about $40 million from about 800 000 vehicles registered with the Central Vehicle Registry.
Road licence fees are used together with tollgate fees, overload fees and transit fees to maintain the country's roads and construct new ones.
Licence discs, per vehicle per term, are $15 for motorcycles and $20 for small vehicles. Owners of vehicles between three and seven tonnes fork out $45 while for vehicles above seven tonnes but below nine tonnes the discs are $60 and those more than nine tonnes are $75. Small trailer owners pay $15 and big trailers are charged $40.
During a familiarisation tour of the organisation's new computerised vehicle licencing system at Zinara House in Harare yesterday, Minister of Transport, Communication and Infrastructural Development, Nicholas Goche, was shown samples of the fake discs.
He was also told that about 220 000 vehicles were registered in the 10 days before the expiry of the 31 May deadline while only about 30 000 have been registered in the 10 days since the extension of the deadline to 30 June.
The Central Vehicle Registry estimates that there are about 800 000 vehicles on the country's roads.
Addressing journalists after the tour, Minister Goche warned motorists, who had bought fake discs, that the new computerised system being used by Zinara would detect the discs at roadblocks.
"Zinara has bought portable scanners that will detect fake discs on the spot.
"They have been issued to the police, who will use them on the country's roads to identify fake discs and arrest the culprits.
"The new system will flush out all counterfeit discs," said Minister Goche.
He could not be drawn to reveal the number of fake discs suspected to be in circulation.
Minister Goche warned that the registration deadline would not be extended beyond 30 June.
"Since the extension, queues have disappeared from Zimpost outlets this gives the impression that people are waitingfor 29 June to start rushing to register, meaning they would fail to beat the deadline," he said.
The Minister said if there were queues at registering outlets every day, a further extension might have been considered.
In an interview after the address, Zinara chief executive officer, Mr Frank Chitukutuku said the organisation was pushing for sentences of up to five years for those found with forged discs.
"We are calling for deterrent sentences of up to five years for offenders. All along it has been difficult to differentiate between genuine and fake discs.
He said last year, five people were arrested for printing fake discs and were each sentenced to three years in prison.
Zimpost managing director Mr Douglas Zimbango urged motorists to bear with the organisation as it worked to clear queues.
"We have re-organised ourselves and have put specific queues for Zinara discs. We are no longer mixing them with other Zimpost business.
Motorists should also note that licencing outlets were reduced from about 252 in the country to only 50," said Mr Zimbango.
Last week, Police Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri allayed fears by motorists that they would be arrested for failing to display valid licence discs, after Zinara suddenly cancelled the extension barely a week after announcing it.
He said police would only start asking for the discs after 30 June.
Zinara spokesperson, Mr Augustine Moyo had announced that police were to start arresting motorists without valid discs soon after the cancellation of the extension of the deadline.
Zinara introduced new licence discs with more security features as a measure to plug the production of fake discs.
Counterfeiting reportedly cost Zinara more than $20 million in potential revenue yearly.
The new system also aims to establish and capture the actual number of vehicles on Zimbabwe's roads.
Zinara also revealed that it was collecting about $5 million every year from about 300 000 vehicles, instead of about $40 million from about 800 000 vehicles registered with the Central Vehicle Registry.
Road licence fees are used together with tollgate fees, overload fees and transit fees to maintain the country's roads and construct new ones.
Licence discs, per vehicle per term, are $15 for motorcycles and $20 for small vehicles. Owners of vehicles between three and seven tonnes fork out $45 while for vehicles above seven tonnes but below nine tonnes the discs are $60 and those more than nine tonnes are $75. Small trailer owners pay $15 and big trailers are charged $40.
Source - TC
