Zimbabwe motorists warned to put papers in order

Motorists who continue driving unregistered vehicles will be arrested and have their cars impounded, including those using temporary plates, Government has warned, as the number of people driving unregistered cars rises, with some committing crimes while others speed off after accidents.

It is now easy to pay taxes and duties in advance and buy registration plates at the border as the car is brought into Zimbabwe.

In a statement, Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development Permanent Secretary Engineer Joy Makumbe said Government had fully decentralised the issuing of vehicle number plates and there were adequate stocks, so no one need skip the process.

"Government notes with concern that there is a growing trend of vehicles plying the country's roads without registration number plates. The public is hereby notified that it is an offence to drive an unregistered or an unlicensed vehicle," she said.

"To ensure that no one and no place is left behind, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has fully decentralised the issuing of vehicle registration number plates.

"Local production of vehicle registration number plates has ensured adequate stocks; hence motorists are encouraged to visit their nearest Zimpost and ZIMRA offices or the nearest port of entry to acquire number plates.

"To maintain order and sanity in the country, all vehicles without registration number plates will be clamped with immediate effect."

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi recently said any vehicle moving on the roads with no registration plates would be impounded, including those vehicles which have been imported and are moving with temporary plates.

He said police had been assured by Central Vehicle Registry that they had adequate stock of number plates, therefore there was no excuse for motorists not to register vehicles within two weeks after import as stipulated under the Vehicle Registration and Licencing Act.

This came after police had expressed concern over some prominent people who continued to drive unregistered top-of-the-range cars, warning that the operation targeting such vehicles was continuing.

Permanent number plates are now available at almost all border posts, so anyone importing a vehicle now buys the permanent plates as they clear their car through customs, with temporary plates no longer issued.

Only Plumtree Border Post does not have number plates for sale, but the local Zimpost office is selling them.

Government has introduced a cocktail of measures to curb crime and make it easier for vehicle owners to pay taxes and duties before registering them at the point of entry.