Number Plate News, Zimbabwe

Harare — MOTORISTS who fail to change over from old to new vehicle registration number plates introduced by the Government risk having their cars confiscated by the State.

According to the new Government regulation, all vehicles displaying the old licence plates will not be cleared by the police for the purposes of leaving the country after January 31 this year.

Motorists have been given up to December 31 this year to change from the old number plates to new ones.

In an interview yesterday, Transport, Communication and Infrastructure Development Minister Nicholas Goche said the new system was one of a number of measures being introduced by the Government as it moves towards computerising the vehicle registration system.

“We have begun to phase out the old number plates and we want all vehicles to use the new number plates, which have strict security features that would be used in our computerisation programme,” he said.

Minister Goche said the Government was looking at introducing a uniform system in the country where all vehicles could be traced on the computer network.

“What we are introducing is a system where even at our border posts, a vehicle can be traced through the system to find out whether it was stolen or not,” he said.

The minister said Government had given motorists adequate time to change their number plates, but many had failed to comply.

He said the Government would take drastic measures against defaulters.

“We wanted to give the motorists enough time and we believe we gave them ample time to make the changeovers,” he said.

Minister Goche said the programme was in compliance with the new number plate system.

He said motorists would have until December 31 this year to make the changeover, but with effect from January 31 no car displaying the phased out number plates will be cleared to leave Zimbabwe.

“It should be noted that, notwithstanding the foregoing, with effect from January 31 2010, no vehicle shall be allowed to leave Zimbabwe through any of the country’s exit points unless it has complied with the requirements . . . displaying new vehicle security registration plates.

“Motorists intending to drive Zimbabwean-registered vehicles out of the country must ensure that they obtain and display the new vehicle security registration plates prior to their trips,” he said.

Minister Goche urged all Government, local authorities and diplomatic vehicles still displaying the old number plates to comply.

He said these vehicles would be attended to exclusively at the Central Vehicle Registry offices in Harare.

The Government has authorised a number of outlets to sell the new number plates.

These include post offices countrywide as well as Harare and Bulawayo council offices.

Motorists are required to take with them a copy of their vehicle’s registration book, a set of the old registration number plates, positive identification document (national identity card or valid Zimbabwean driver’s licence or passport) and an acceptable proof of residence.

The fee for changing plates is US$160 for a car and US$140 for a trailer or motorcycle.

Government also expects motorists to have a police Criminal Investigations Department vehicle clearance or endorsement on Form CVR4 and a valid copy of the vehicle’s certificate of fitness in the case of public service vehicles.

The ministry discouraged motorists from hiring undesignated agents for changeovers of the registration numbers because the plates would be rejected.

“Applications that are tendered by persons other than those shown on application documents shall not be entertained and are liable to confiscation.

“Registered owners designating third parties for genuine reasons are advised to direct their representatives to the CVR for processing.”

Government introduced the new vehicle registration plates in 2005 but soon replaced them with an improved plate featuring the “ZW” acronym.

However, a number of motorists ignored the new order and continued using the old number plates.

The new number plates have the country’s identity – the ZW acronym – on the extreme right.