Zinara deadline scrapped
Wednesday, 06 June 2012 00:00
Tendai Mugabe Senior Reporter
THE Zimbabwe National Roads Administration has scrapped the June 30 vehicle licensing deadline extension hardly a week after granting the respite.
Motorists who fail to display new licence discs will be fined starting today.
The deadline was extended following a public outcry from motorists who failed to meet the initial May 31 deadline.
Zinara spokesperson Mr Augustine Moyo said they scrapped the extension because motorists had stopped licensing their vehicles following the extension.
“With immediate effect, that deadline has been scrapped,” he said.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police is going to issue tickets to all motorists without new vehicle licence discs starting from tomorrow (to-day).
“Zinara will not entertain any motorists who seek refund basing on the issue of extension of the deadline.
“From the start, we made it very clear that the issue of extension of the deadline is not statutory. “The Vehicle Registration and Licensing Act does not provide for any extension.”
Mr Moyo said the extension was only a compromise.
By May 31, Zinara had registered 220 000 vehicles out of an estimated vehicle population of 800 000.
Queues that characterised the last few days to the May 31 deadline suddenly disappeared, raising fears that motorists will still miss the June 30 deadline.
Mr Moyo said motorists will not be charged any administrative penalty for late licensing before June 30. But those who fail to license their vehicles by June 30 will pay an all inclusive penalty of US$45 in addition to US$20 charged for acquiring the new disk. The penalty comprises US$20 fine, US$20 arrears fee and US$5 administration fee.
Also see
– Zinara deadline: Less than a quarter of vehicles licensed
“Zinara wishes to inform all its valued motoring public that the extended grace period of 30 June 2012 only applies to Zinara’s internal administration where it will not be charging penalties for late renewal of vehicle licenses, but does not exonerate the motoring public from prosecution by ZRP,” Mr Moyo said.
Police spokesperson Superintendent Andrew Phiri said they will be arresting motorists for failure to display valid licence discs starting today. “Remember, we have a law that we have to enforce that is not governed by extension of deadlines or introduction of new systems,” he said.
“What they (Zinara) are saying is that they will continue to issue vehicle licensing discs, but that does not stop the police from prosecuting motorists who fail to display new discs.”
Supt Phiri said the other concern was that following the extension of the deadline, some motorists were now moving around without valid insurance.
In the event of an accident, Supt Phiri said the public will suffer because there will be no one to cover their loss.