The Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Vehicle Inspection Department are carrying out a joint operation to weed out unregistered and unroadworthy vehicles on the roads in and around Harare.
A shortage of number plates has prompted to allow vehicle importers to obtain Temporary Identification Cards (TICs) for indefinite use as it works on addressing the matter. Normally, TICs have a 14-day lifespan.
In a statement issued on Monday, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joel Biggie Matiza:
Any newly imported vehicles may not be driven on our public roads until and unless they have some form of acceptable and displayed identification documents such as Temporary Identification Cards (TICs).
The validity period of Temporary Identification Cards has with immediate effect, and in consultation with the Commissioner-General of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, been relaxed to run for an indefinite period from the date of issue, and until further notice from the statutory standard 14 days.
Chief police spokesperson Commissioner Charity Charamba said that unregistered vehicles are a cause for concern as some of them are used by criminals and when involved in accidents, they speed off.