News / National
Zimbabwe government urged to suspend vehicle ban
29 Jun 2011 at 00:56hrs | Views
The public has called upon the government to shelve plans to ban the importation of second hand vehicles which are five years old and above.
The call was made at a public hearing held by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructure Development in Harare.
Chief among the public's concern is that the average worker cannot afford to buy a brand new vehicle as the ones being assembled locally cost at least US$22 000, while the average price for used vehicle imports is US$5 000 including duty.
Private transport operators described the move to halt second hand vehicle imports as ill-advised and urged the government to focus on enforcing existing road traffic regulations as well as improving the country's roads.
Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructure Development Chairman, Mr Blessing Chebundo said views gathered will be submitted to the relevant ministry for engagement.
The impending ban on the importation of second hand vehicles, which are five years old and above, was gazetted by the government last September under Road Traffic Regulations on Construction, Equipment and Use.
It comes into effect this October.
The statutory instrument, which contains a host of measures aimed at curbing carnage on the roads, will also phase out left hand drive vehicles from local roads in the next five years.
The call was made at a public hearing held by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructure Development in Harare.
Chief among the public's concern is that the average worker cannot afford to buy a brand new vehicle as the ones being assembled locally cost at least US$22 000, while the average price for used vehicle imports is US$5 000 including duty.
Private transport operators described the move to halt second hand vehicle imports as ill-advised and urged the government to focus on enforcing existing road traffic regulations as well as improving the country's roads.
The impending ban on the importation of second hand vehicles, which are five years old and above, was gazetted by the government last September under Road Traffic Regulations on Construction, Equipment and Use.
It comes into effect this October.
The statutory instrument, which contains a host of measures aimed at curbing carnage on the roads, will also phase out left hand drive vehicles from local roads in the next five years.
Source - zbc
