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despite the extension of the registration deadline to 30 June, amid revelations that police will make a decision on whether to impound vehicles without the new discs today.
Congestion was actually worse in Bulawayo because motorists from surrounding areas complained that they were being referred to Bulawayo to get discs, as most post offices in the region did not have them.
Motorists who were anxious to beat the initial deadline, which was yesterday, brawled at Famona Post Office on Wednesday and reportedly assaulted a guard before breaking glass panes on the door.
In separate interviews, motorists said they wanted to register by the end of the day yesterday because they knew from experience that police would be asking for bribes or impounding their vehicles today.
“We assaulted the guard at Famona because he was allowing people who were not in the queue to go into the post office and buy discs. It was about 6pm when the outlet was about to close,” said a Mr Mlalazi at the post office yesterday.
Mrs Marian Malele said she wanted to make sure that she paid by the end of the day yesterday.
“I know from experience that the police will be giving us headaches tomorrow. They often say there is a seven-day grace period after the expiry of registration deadlines, but at roadblocks they will tell you they do not know about that. They threaten to impound your car until you bribe them,” said Mrs Malele.
Another motorist said whenever grace periods were announced, police at roadblocks would say they existed only in newspapers.
“The queue is long but it is nothing compared to the inconvenience that I will suffer at roadblocks if I fail to pay today,” said Mr Takawira Siziba at Belmont Post Office.
A motorist who phoned from Hwange said the Hwange post office had not had discs since the registration exercise started on Monday last week.
Another one from Gwanda said she had been referred to Bulawayo to pay for an exemption for her vehicle which is not on the road.
Zimpost managing director Mr Douglas Zimbango could not be reached to comment on the unavailability of discs at outlets that were supposed to be distributing them.
Senior Assistant Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena said he would comment today after verifying whether police had received communication from the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Infrastructural Development about the extension.
“Normally there is a seven-day grace period after the expiry of a deadline before we start impounding the vehicles that do not have valid discs. However, you can contact me tomorrow when I have verified issues regarding the extension,” said Snr Asst Comm Bvudzijena.
Last week, Mr Zimbango said Zimpost had reduced the number of outlets receiving Zinara payments from 300 to just 50 countrywide following the computerisation of the payment system.
Zinara introduced new vehicle licence discs with more security features as part of efforts to curb the illegal reproduction of the permits.
This follows indications that the administration was prejudiced of $15 million in potential revenue through rampant printing of counterfeit discs.
Licence discs per vehicle per term cost $15 for motorcycles and $20 for small cars.
Owners of vehicles between three and seven tonnes fork out $45 while for vehicles above seven tonnes but below nine tonnes pay $60 and those more than nine tonnes pay $75.
Small trailer owners pay $15 and big trailers are charged $40.
Motorists have been spending days in long queues and complaining of slow service at Zimpost, since the discs became available on Monday last week.
Online Reporter