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Zimbabwe Road Authority Impounds Vehicles in Licence Blitz


FILE: The Zimbabwe National Roads Authority says it needs nearly $2 billion to rebuild and maintain the country’s road network. (ZINARA website)
FILE: The Zimbabwe National Roads Authority says it needs nearly $2 billion to rebuild and maintain the country’s road network. (ZINARA website)

The Zimbabwe National Road Authority (ZINARA) is conducting a door-to-door blitz on motorists that are not paying vehicle licences. The motor vehicle road use regulatory body has also been targeting parking bays, fining vehicle owners that are not following the law.

Some motorists like Elisha Musabayana blasted ZINARA for conducting this exercise.

“I am completely against it because these people are just looking for vehicles that are parked at home. This is unacceptable because some of these vehicles are not functional and remember in this country we have a money crisis. I would say they should look for other means of raising or looking for money because it is almost like harassing us and harassing the people.”

Another Mutare motorist, Walter Murisi, said Zimbabweans have no money to pay for vehicle licences.

“Aaah that one is an error because look at my situation because hey look at the situation in our country so many people do not have money and do not have houses and to ask them to pay vehicle licences on a broken car is unreasonable when they also lodgers.”

Murisi said ZINARA is also targeting vehicles with old number plates.

“I think the demand for vehicle licenses is unjust. It’s an error because many people are crying because of Zinara be in towns or in villages where they are targeting.”

Edwin Sigauke, a motor vehicle garage owner in Mutare, claimed that ZINARA’s move is unprocedural.

“It is just unfair what they are doing because parking the car in the first place implies that I do not have the money. And then towing it away again is just inhumane because my failure to pay the licence means I do not have money; how would I be able to pay the fine charged at the end of it after. In my own view it’s not fair what they are doing.”

ZINARA is charging US$80 for towing vehicles and an additional $10 a day for storage at their parking and storage bay.

A ZINARA employee, who spoke on condition of not being named, said the blitz is aimed at raising money for the government.

Mutare lawyer and chairperson for ZimRights as well as Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights representative Passmore Nyakureba said he believes the clampdown is unconstitutional.

He says there is no need for motorists to pay licences for broken down vehicles.

Report On Zinara - Vehicle Fees Filed By Loirdham Moyo
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