News / National
Zimbabwe reviews used vehicle importation ban
12 Jul 2011 at 09:51hrs | Views
The Zimbabwe government has made concessions on the ban on Left-Hand-Drive motor vehicles by December 2015.
Backing down from pressure from members of the transport sector, the government is now saying those cars that are already in the country will be allowed to run until their full economic lifespan is exhausted.
However, the deadline on used car imports over five-years-old remains October this year as consultations with other stakeholders continue.
A Statutory Instrument giving effect to the new concessions and variations will soon be brought into effect.
Transport, Communications and Infrastructural Development Minister Nicholas Goche said other requirements such as reflective triangles and fire extinguishers came into force with effect from this month.
Minister Goche said a decision would have been made by October this year on the proposed ban on importing vehicles that are more than five-years-old.
The Minister disclosed this while giving oral evidence before a Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport chaired by Kwekwe Central MP Mr Blessing Chebundo (MDC-T) on the import of Statutory Instrument 154 of 2010 that sought to ban Left-Hand-Drive vehicles among other cocktail of measures.
Minister Goche said the need to ban vehicles more than five-years-old came as a result of serious concerns raised by the Ministry of Environment on the pollution of the air caused by such vehicles.
He said the policy was also in line with the Sadc policy of doing away with the vehicles. South Africa has already banned the use of such vehicles but allows Left-Hand-Drive trucks from other countries to use its public roads.
Minister Goche said motorists should not complain over the short notice as, in his view, sufficient notice was given to accommodate those that had placed orders from suppliers.
Minister Goche said many Sadc countries, were moving towards doing away with left hand vehicles. "South Africa has already taken that decision, I know many people will say they did it to protect their industry but I don't agree with that," he said.
The Minister said while accidents were caused by other factors such as human error, left hand vehicles were also tot blame and had received police reports to that effect.
Backing down from pressure from members of the transport sector, the government is now saying those cars that are already in the country will be allowed to run until their full economic lifespan is exhausted.
However, the deadline on used car imports over five-years-old remains October this year as consultations with other stakeholders continue.
A Statutory Instrument giving effect to the new concessions and variations will soon be brought into effect.
Transport, Communications and Infrastructural Development Minister Nicholas Goche said other requirements such as reflective triangles and fire extinguishers came into force with effect from this month.
Minister Goche said a decision would have been made by October this year on the proposed ban on importing vehicles that are more than five-years-old.
The Minister disclosed this while giving oral evidence before a Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport chaired by Kwekwe Central MP Mr Blessing Chebundo (MDC-T) on the import of Statutory Instrument 154 of 2010 that sought to ban Left-Hand-Drive vehicles among other cocktail of measures.
Minister Goche said the need to ban vehicles more than five-years-old came as a result of serious concerns raised by the Ministry of Environment on the pollution of the air caused by such vehicles.
He said the policy was also in line with the Sadc policy of doing away with the vehicles. South Africa has already banned the use of such vehicles but allows Left-Hand-Drive trucks from other countries to use its public roads.
Minister Goche said motorists should not complain over the short notice as, in his view, sufficient notice was given to accommodate those that had placed orders from suppliers.
Minister Goche said many Sadc countries, were moving towards doing away with left hand vehicles. "South Africa has already taken that decision, I know many people will say they did it to protect their industry but I don't agree with that," he said.
The Minister said while accidents were caused by other factors such as human error, left hand vehicles were also tot blame and had received police reports to that effect.
Source - Byo24News
