News / National
Zim police impound unlicenced vehicles
04 Jul 2012 at 07:06hrs | Views
Police impounded hundreds of vehicles in Harare yesterday after the owners failed to buy compulsory licence discs from the Zimbabwe National Road Authority (Zinara) following the June 30 licensing deadline.
A visit to the police station showed that multitudes of motorists had not complied with the deadline and consequently had their vehicles impounded. However, by close of business, most of them had been released.
Licence discs cost $20 and the penalty is also $20, in addition to a $5 administration fee, meaning those arrested would have to pay $45.
Police nevertheless said they did not have a specific operation targeted at the unlicensed motorists.
Zinara spokesperson Augustine Moyo said defaulting motorists faced paying a penalty that amounted to double the cost of the original licence fee.
He added that from an estimated national vehicle population of 800 000, only 330 000 had been licensed by Monday this week.
Zinara was recently quoted as saying thousands of motorists who failed to beat the vehicle licence disc registration deadline on Saturday may have stolen or illegally imported the vehicles.
Motorists have also said the estimated figure for the total vehicles on the country's roads is grossly understated, given reports that the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) was clearing an average of 450 vehicles through Beitbridge and Plumtree border posts every day.
Contacted for comment Senior Assistant Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena, the police national spokesperson said police would not launch a special operation to bring motorists who did not register to book.
"They will be caught at our routine roadblocks and inspection points," said Snr Asst Comm Bvudzijena.
He could not be drawn into discussing the possible number of vehicles in the country.
A visit to the police station showed that multitudes of motorists had not complied with the deadline and consequently had their vehicles impounded. However, by close of business, most of them had been released.
Licence discs cost $20 and the penalty is also $20, in addition to a $5 administration fee, meaning those arrested would have to pay $45.
Police nevertheless said they did not have a specific operation targeted at the unlicensed motorists.
Zinara spokesperson Augustine Moyo said defaulting motorists faced paying a penalty that amounted to double the cost of the original licence fee.
Zinara was recently quoted as saying thousands of motorists who failed to beat the vehicle licence disc registration deadline on Saturday may have stolen or illegally imported the vehicles.
Motorists have also said the estimated figure for the total vehicles on the country's roads is grossly understated, given reports that the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) was clearing an average of 450 vehicles through Beitbridge and Plumtree border posts every day.
Contacted for comment Senior Assistant Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena, the police national spokesperson said police would not launch a special operation to bring motorists who did not register to book.
"They will be caught at our routine roadblocks and inspection points," said Snr Asst Comm Bvudzijena.
He could not be drawn into discussing the possible number of vehicles in the country.
Source - Byo24News
