Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona says sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the United States of America and other factors are to blame for the huge backlog of metal driver’s licence discs.
Speaking in an interview with NewsDay, Mhona said the government is failing to procure raw materials for the production of metal driver’s licence discs resulting in the Central Vehicle Registry (CVR) struggling to clear the backlog. He said:
CVR has made positive steps in clearing the backlog on driver’s licence discs. However, the pace is not as fast as we would want because of several challenges, some of which are beyond the scope of CVR in particular, and the ministry in general.
For a better context, the raw materials used in the manufacture of licence discs are imported, and because of sanctions, it has been hard to procure them from traditional suppliers in the USA [United States of America].
We import the special alumni photo plates, the film, developer and gold dye and seal materials. It has been difficult to get supplies in stock.
He said the other factor that has led to the backlog is that more and more people are taking driver’s licences. Said Mhona:
More and more people are taking driver’s licences as cars are also increasing on the roads.
The number of cars we have on our roads has increased drastically, especially with the advent of ex-Japan vehicles.
As it stands, there is only one plant or machine to make the licences in Zimbabwe and it has to absorb all applicants.
Mhona also attributed the shortage of discs to obsolete machinery used in the production process. He said:
Most of the work from VID to CVR remains manual and this takes time. As it stands, there is only one plant or machine to make the licence discs in Zimbabwe and it has to absorb all applicants.
The production line also uses a special type of typewriter, for example, Olivetti and Brothers, which have unique characters and letters that help to weed out counterfeits.
Working space has been greatly compromised due to huge volumes from VID and police driving schools which test thousands daily and all these applicants are forwarded to CVR.
Mhona said the greatest solution to the backlog is the automation of the whole process. | NewsDay