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THE Government yesterday launched a new plastic polymer driver’s licence that is linked to a database and meets the international standards of SADC, COMESA and the East African Community.
The new licence will be scannable and has security features to prevent forgery.
Drivers will be required to undergo an eye test and update their biometric records every five years.
The plastic licence will now be issued with immediate effect and it will consolidate the Professional Driver’s Permit and the Defensive Driver’s Certificate onto a single card.
The new licence aims to improve road safety and reduce the number of unqualified drivers on the roads.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Felix Mhona, officially launched the new SADC Compliant Driver’s Licence; Multilingual Electronic Learner Licence Testing System and the Digital Route Permit System.
The new licences will be issued after seven days once an applicant has either passed or applied.
Before the launch of the plastic licence, those who passed the Zimbabwe driving tests at VID depots countrywide were immediately issued with a temporary paper licence before obtaining the metal licence a few months later.
One of the advantages of the new plastic licences is that they will be printed instantly and have security features that will make them difficult to forge, as well as being scannable so checks can immediately confirm the authenticity and reveal any legal issues.
Minister Mhona said the development was a fulfilment of his Ministry’s 2021 to 2025 Strategic Plan premised on the upgrading and modernisation of the transport sector.
“A licence issued in Zimbabwe will be valid for driving across the 25 Tripartite countries, and beyond, without any need for conversion as prescribed by Article 6.10 of the SADC Protocol on Transport, Communication and Meteorology of 1996,” he said.
“Once we put the legal framework into place, the 13 categories of the new driver’s licence will, among others, make provision for the combination categories of a vehicle and trailer.
“The new categories shall accommodate the different sizes of vehicles and prevent the current scenario where drivers are tested on a small vehicle and then be authorised to drive a very large vehicle which the driver may not be able to operate effectively.”
“Professional Drivers will now be progressively certified unlike the current scenario whereby one instantly becomes a Professional Driver on obtaining Class 2.”
He added: “All Professional Drivers Permits will be renewable after two years, where drivers will be required to go for an eye test to assess vision and the ability to focus on and discern objects.
“Other drivers outside the professional drivers’ category will also undergo eye tests and updating of their biometric records after every five years.
“It is important to note that one does not need to go for re-testing in order to renew their licence.
“It is sad to note that the death toll on the roads is still unacceptably high and the Government is committed to continuously develop and implement road safety.”
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter