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This followed an outcry from motorists who felt the 50 Zimpost outlets that sell the discs countrywide would not be able to service all customers before the initial deadline, which was today.
However, it remains unclear whether police would start arresting motorists who fail to display valid licence discs on their vehicles, in line with the country’s laws.
In an interview yesterday, Zinara spokesperson Mr Augustine Moyo said the extension had been necessitated by operational challenges that included Zesa power cuts at some of the outlets.
“We have listened to the public and we have agreed, in consultation with the Minister of Transport, Communication and Infrastructural Development, Nicholas Goche, that the deadline should be reset to 30 June.
“We have noted that in some of the registering outlets, namely Hillside Post Office in Bulawayo, there was load shedding most of the time and people were queuing without getting the service,” said Mr Moyo.
He said Zinara had bought state-of-the-art generators to overcome the challenge.
Mr Moyo, however, warned motorists not to relax because those who failed to register before the new deadline expired would have to pay an additional $45.
“They will pay a $20 fine, $20 for arrears and the $5 late payment penalty,” he said.
Mr Moyo said the new computerised licensing system was designed to eliminate long queues in future.
“Unlike the old system where discs were pre-printed, they are computer generated on the spot and motorists can pay for any number of terms up to one year at their convenience. It also virtually eliminates fraud and a disc bought for a vehicle cannot be put on another vehicle,” he said.
Mr Moyo said there were about 20 000 registered Zimbabwean vehicles in neighbouring South Africa and most of them did not have proper registration.
He urged drivers in the neighbouring country to regularise their registration.
Zimpost managing director, Mr Douglas Zimbango, said Zinara had communicated the development to his organisation.
“However, I do not know whether police will accept it and stop arresting motorists, as from tomorrow. They have often said Zinara is not an authority and therefore cannot change statute which calls for the impounding of cars that are driven without a valid disc,” said Mr Zimbango.
He said Zinara had assured him that the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Infrastructural Development would liaise with the police on the issue today.
There was a long queue at Bulawayo Main Post Office yesterday at about 5pm as motorists were not aware of the new deadline.
Some motorists, some of whom said they had been queuing since Wednesday last week, were sitting on the floor.
“This queue is not moving at all. Zinara should plan better next time. We have had to leave productive work to spend our days here. On Friday police will be waiting for us on the road, this is unfair,” said a motorist who declined to be named.
A comment could not be obtained from the police.
Last week, Mr Zimbango said working hours at Zimpost outlets had been extended to stretch from 7am to 6pm and during weekends to enable motorists to buy licence discs.
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 whose weight is between three and seven tonnes fork out $45 while for vehicles above seven tonnes but below nine tonnes, the discs are $60 and those weighing more than nine tonnes pay $75.
Small trailer owners pay $15 and big trailers are charged $40.
The exemption fee for a car that is off the road is $15 a year.
Motorists have been spending days in long queues and have been complaining of slow service at Zimpost, since the discs became available on Monday last week.
Online Reporter