Zimpapers Logo

the ban on the importation of cars that are five years or older takes effect on June 30 this year.
One of the options being considered is a loan facility that people can access to buy either brand new cars or those that are not more than five-years-old.
Government instituted the ban as a measure to reduce carnage attributable to old and defective vehicles.
The State will on June 30 also outlaw the importation of left-hand drive vehicles and those with tinted windows.
Transport, Communications and Infrastructure Development Minister Nicholas Goche yesterday told the House of Assembly that the new regulations were part of Sadc’s efforts to integrate road rules.
“We are having a plan to ensure that as transporters re-place these vehicles, they are facilitated with money to buy new vehicles.
“Discussions are continuing and are at an advanced stage so that we have a population of vehicles that are five-years-old and below.”
Minister Goche said the ban was reached following consultations with various stakeholders, including environme-ntalists.
He said environmentalists were concerned with the levels of carbon emissions from old vehicles.
“Environmentalists have lobbied against old vehicles that emit gases beyond required levels,” Minister Goche said.
He said Government would not lose revenue because of the ban, but would instead save money on public health and insurance costs.
The minister said the importation of old vehicles was not beneficial to anyone, as most of the cars broke down soon after getting into Zimbabwe.
“Most of these hardly move for more than two years and this is exhibited by broken down vehicles in most townships in the country,” Minister Goche said.
He, however, said cars that were already in the country would be allowed to be used until they were no longer roadworthy.
“The vehicles that are already there will be allowed to reach the end of their life. This is all part of harmonising the regulations in the region.”
Transport operators, especially those with haulage trucks, have criticised the Government’s decision to ban the importation of left-hand drive vehicles, saying there is no proof that they are responsible for road carnage.
They said many of them would be put out of business because they had no financial capacity to convert their trucks to right-hand drive. The public has also questioned the efficacy of banning cars that are five-years-old or more.
They have said a well-maintained Mercedes Benz, for example, is better than many poorly kept sedans that are less than five-years-old.