Zimbabwe To Introduce Plastic Driver’s Licence Discs
Zimbabwe is set to introduce plastic driver’s licence disks early this year, a government official has revealed.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Permanent Secretary Engineer Theodius Chinyanga recently told State media that the government has submitted designs of the proposed plastic driver’s licence to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for approval.
Chinyanga also said the procurement of consumables such as the ribbon, ink and foil required to produce the plastic licence disks is underway. Said Chinyanga:
In compliance with the International Organisation for Standardisation and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 18013 standards on driver’s licences, the ministry applied for the Issuer Identification Number, which uniquely identifies CVR as the issuing authority in Zimbabwe, across all ISO member states.
The IIN was issued in November 2022.
The ministry has since encoded the IIN on the card design and submitted it to SADC, who are currently reviewing it.
While awaiting feedback from SADC, the ministry has initiated the procurement process for the related materials such as ribbon, ink and foil.
The printers will be procured once final approval is received from SADC so as to avoid compatibility issues.
Plastic driver’s licences, also known as plastic polymer licences, are already in use in several SADC countries, including South Africa.
Like polythene-synthetic identity cards introduced a few years ago to replace the metal ones, the new plastic licences will be printed instantly. | The Sunday Mail
