Press Statement on the Blitz on unregistered vehicles by Hon F.T Mhona

PRESS STATEMENT ON THE BLITZ ON UNREGISTERED VEHICLES BY THE HON MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT; F.T. MHONA (MP): 17 JANUARY 2021

1. The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development note the current blitz on unregistered vehicles by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage. The Ministry is in full support of the blitz by law enforcement agencies following prior warnings to the public to register their vehicles.
2. The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development would like to inform motorists and the nation at large that the country has adequate number plates in stock and these are issued by the Central Vehicle Registry (CVR) and its agencies namely ZIMRA and ZIMPOST.
3. The public is advised that initial vehicle registration and change of ownership can be done at CVR or its agencies.
4. The country has the following number plates in stock that meet the current demand;

1. Currently ZIMPOST stations issuing out number plates are; Causeway, Southerton, Chitungwiza and Bulawayo.
2. ZIMPOST Mutare main, Rusape, Bindura, Marondera, Chinhoyi, Masvingo, Victoria Falls and Hwange will commence the issuance of number plates on 18 January 2022.

• For ZIMRA the issuance of number plates is being done at Kurima House (Harare), Masvingo, Victoria Falls, Bualwayo, Gweru, Mutare and Beitbridge

5. The Ministry would like to assure the nation that another batch of twenty five thousand (25 000) number plates will be available from 27 January 2022 adding to the current stocks to meet the demand.
6. The Ministry notes that a number of car dealers are not registering motor vehicles on import which they then sell unregistered to clients. This is against the law as a motor vehicle is required to be registered upon entry in the name of the car dealer. Exemption is only given to those with bonded warehouses. Temporary number plates are only valid for 14 days.
7. The Ministry also notes the tendency by citizens not to collect their number plates even after paying for them. Currently we have one thousand one hundred (1100) number plates that have been processed and are ready for collection. The public is advised to check with CVR and collect their number plates.
8. The Ministry advises the nation that going forward CVR will only be responsible for issuing number plates to Corporates, Government Departments, Diplomats and the replacement of lost number plates.
9. In conclusion, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development would like to assure the motoring public of the adequacy of number plates in the country. The Ministry further informs the public that the blitz on unregistered vehicles will continue until compliance is achieved. After the road blitz, enforcement agencies will proceed to car sales and dealerships to ensure that they also comply.

Hon. F.T. Mhona (MP)

MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT