Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
GOVERNMENT has, with immediate effect, removed “unjustifiable and duplicative” access fees that were being charged by the Central Vehicle Registry, Road Motor Transportation and the Vehicle Inspectorate Department.
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has successfully rationalised all fees charged by the departments, including the removal of regulatory requirements and permit charges that duplicated functions across agencies and transactional fees that hindered operational efficiency.
The move is part of the broader national effort to eliminate high administrative costs, streamline regulatory processes and strengthen Zimbabwe’s economic competitiveness by enhancing the ease of doing business.
The review specifically targeted licensing fees in both passenger and freight transport, overlapping permit charges across agencies, punitive or disproportionate compliance levies, and transactional fees that hindered operational efficiency.
Under the new system, first-time motor vehicle registration has been slashed from US$500 to US$50. Change-of-ownership requiring new number plates now costs US$95, down from US$515. First-time motorcycle registration has been set at US$70, while first-time trailer registration fees have been reduced from US$70 to US$50.
Operator licences have been standardised at a flat fee of US$125 per vehicle, replacing the previous structure which required a US$50 application fee plus US$75 per vehicle. Route permits have been cut from US$75 to US$20.
In addition to fee reductions, the Government has completely removed the requirement for garage inspection reports, which previously cost US$25. The requirement for retesting of Public Service Vehicle (PSV) drivers has also been abolished. Previously, PSV and truck drivers were required to undergo periodic retesting by VID in addition to holding a valid driver’s licence, with drivers required to pay a retesting fee of about US$30.
Law enforcement agencies have been advised that PSV driver retesting is no longer a legal requirement and is, therefore, no longer enforceable.
In a statement, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Advocate Felix Mhona confirmed the development, tracing the reforms to a directive issued by President Mnangagwa.
“During the first Cabinet meeting of 2026, His Excellency the President, Cde Dr ED Mnangagwa, directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to finalise the review of taxes, licences, permits and regulatory fees charged across Government,” Minister Mhona said.
The directive, first issued during the first Cabinet meeting of 2025, called for a comprehensive downward review of taxes, licences, permits, and user fees deemed excessive.
The objective was to eliminate high administrative costs, streamline the regulatory environment, and enhance the ease of doing business while strengthening Zimbabwe’s economic competitiveness.
Following the presidential directive, Cabinet on September 9, 2025 considered and approved the review of fees charged by the CVR, RMT, and VID, with particular emphasis on reducing or eliminating unjustifiable, duplicative, or overlapping charges.
The review specifically targeted licensing fees in both passenger and freight transport, overlapping permit charges across agencies, punitive or disproportionate compliance levies, and transactional fees that hindered operational efficiency.
The revised fee structure has been formalised through Statutory Instrument 6 of 2026 and Statutory Instrument 10 of 2026, gazetted on 9 and 12 January 2026, respectively. The latest reforms, removing the Road Access Fee, were given legal effect through Statutory Instrument 113 of 2026, gazetted on 24 July 2026.
Minister Mhona said that the Road Access Fee, now removed through Statutory Instrument 113 of 2026, was introduced in 2009 at a time when Zimbabwe did not yet have a national road tolling system. With the subsequent rollout of ZINARA toll gates across the national road network, the fee became duplicative, resulting in motorists being charged twice for the same service.
“This duplication imposed unnecessary financial and administrative burdens on transport operators and the travelling public,” he said.
Minister Mhona explained that the Road Access Fee was introduced in 2009, before Zimbabwe had a national road tolling system. Initially collected by ZIMRA, collection was taken over by ZINARA at Beitbridge Border Post in 2014.
Under that arrangement, motorists paid both the RAF and bridge toll fees at ZINARA counters. Light vehicles paid US$10 for RAF and US$10 for bridge tolls (totalling US$20 per entry), while buses and heavy vehicles paid US$20 and US$27.50 respectively. Haulage trucks paid US$27.50 in bridge tolls plus VID coupons calculated on distance travelled.
Foreign-registered vehicles paid an additional US$40 in carbon tax and third-party insurance to ZIMRA. Leaving Zimbabwe, motorists paid bridge toll fees of US$10 for light vehicles and US$27.50 for heavy vehicles.
A round trip to South Africa in a light vehicle cost approximately US$30, while buses and heavy vehicles paid around US$75.
The Minister said the milestone aligned with the Ministry’s commitment to improving the ease of doing business and promoting economic competitiveness.
“The Ministry remains firmly committed to creating a modern, efficient, and business-friendly transport regulatory framework,” he said.
“I, therefore, urge all drivers, vehicle owners and transport operators to comply fully with road transport regulations and to take advantage of the revised, streamlined fee structure now in place.”
