The department, however, said it was merely implementing a standing Government position on dress codes, especially in public offices.

Notices announcing the new position were posted on the VID depots across the country. In Bulawayo, there are two notices at the entrance.

“All sleeveless dresses, sleeveless tops, shorts, miniskirts or revealing clothes are not allowed on Government premises,” reads the notice.

A VID worker in Bulawayo said while they are not allowed to speak to the media, the move was necessitated by concerns raised by male examiners and inspectors who said they were being sexually harassed by some of their clients who come for road tests in revealing clothes.

VID public indecency notice

“You won’t believe it but at one time we had a learner driver who was scantily dressed and the situation was made worse when there was a strong wind which lifted her dress up, revealing everything,” said the official.

“Some come in miniskirts and in the process of changing gears, that skirt becomes even shorter as it goes upwards and for a male inspector, that situation becomes unbearable.”

Contacted for comment, VID national deputy director, Mrs Eustina Nyathi, confirmed the dress code enforcement saying they did not invent any laws but they just invoked a standing position.

“The dress code issue is not a new thing. If you get to the courts there is a certain fashion that one has to wear and if you are not in sync with that, you will not be allowed in. It’s as simple as that,” she said.

VID public indecency notice

She said the department had received numerous complaints from both its staff and members of the public sitting for examinations at the depots hence the move to implement the dress code policy.

Bulawayo City’s Ward 17 councillor, Sikhululekile Moyo, however, felt the position was discriminatory and should be stopped forthwith.

“This is discriminatory, no two ways about it. Why should they target females? They must inform us how exactly they want us to dress because what may be appropriate for me may be viewed as revealing or a miniskirt so this position must be reversed,” said Clr Moyo.(Chronicle)