Govt to phase out metal driver’s licence discs

HARARE – GOVERNMENT is set to phase out metal driver’s licence discs and introduce plastic ones due to be launched on June 19, Express Mail Zim can report

The plastic disc is compliant to set standards of Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Transport and Infrastructure Development minister Felix Mhona displayed the sample Wednesday when he addressed journalists in Harare.

“I am happy that this is one of our major milestones in terms of being SADC compliant regarding the issuance of licence.

“The new driver’s licence is fully compliant with the standard specifications of SADC, COMESA and East African Community.

“This demonstrates our commitment to harmonised and standardised driver training, testing and certification within the entire 25 tripartite regional countries,” he said.

The new licence enables local drivers to drive in 25 African countries, among them South Africa, Mozambique, Malawi, Eswatini, Sudan, Tunisia, Tanzania, Zambia, Lesotho, Libya, Eritrea, Libya, Egypt, Ethiopia and Somalia.

The new drivers’ licence also enhances the country’s capacity to develop an electronic database of all licensed drivers which will be linked to all relevant stakeholders and enforcement agencies, said Mhona.

The licence also has 13 categories which conform to the requirements of the United Nations Conventions on Road Traffic International Organisation for Standardisation and International Electro technical Commission.

“The categories will also accommodate different sizes of vehicles and prevent the current scenario where drivers are tested on a small vehicle and be authorised to drive a very large vehicle which the driver may not be able to control in a safe manner,” he said.

Other drivers outside the professional drivers’ categories will undergo eye test and updating of biometric records after every five years.