The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has warned people not to trust anyone who promises to help them get a driver’s licence without following the proper process.
This warning follows a video on social media where a woman was tricked into paying money to a fraudster pretending to be a VID official.
The Ministry explained that in the video, the woman sought help from a traditional doctor to recover her money.
The Ministry clarified that the person in the video is not a VID official and his actions do not represent the values of the VID. The statement reads:
<blockquote>
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development is alarmed by a disturbing video circulating on social media, where a woman was swindled out of her money by a fraudster claiming to be a VID official.
It is alleged in the video that the victim engaged a traditional doctor to make good of her loss resulting in the perpetrator being attacked by bees.
The Ministry wishes to state that the individual involved in this incident is NOT a VID official, and his actions do not reflect the principles and values of the VID.
We also urge the public to refrain from engaging with individuals who promise to facilitate the issuance of licences without following the proper procedures.
The Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID) has reported numerous cases of fraudsters posing as officials, targeting unsuspecting individuals who are desperate to obtain licences quickly.
We emphasise that the VID does not have agents who facilitate the issuance of licences.
To avoid falling prey to these scams, the public is advised to:
<ul>
<li>Desist from paying money to individuals who promise to facilitate the issuance of licenses without following the proper procedures.</li>
<li>Report suspicious activities to the nearest police station to help the Zimbabwe Republic 
Police apprehend the fraudsters.</li>
<li>Follow the proper procedures for acquiring a driver’s license by approaching the VID and undergoing the necessary driver testing.</li>
</ul>
Remember, acquiring a driver’s licence requires patience, dedication, and commitment to following the proper procedures.
We urge prospective drivers to follow proper procedures to acquire driving licences to enhance safety on our roads.
For more information on how to acquire a driver’s license safely and legally, please visit our website or contact your local VID depots across the country.
</blockquote>

Pindula News

The Transport Ministry warns people not to trust fake officials offering quick driver's licenses. A woman was scammed by a fraudster pretending to be from the VID. The Ministry says the scammer is not a real official. They advise people to follow the correct process to get a driver's license and not to pay money to anyone promising a quick license. The VID does not have agents who help with licenses. People should report any suspicious activities to the police and follow the proper procedures to get a license safely and legally.

Transport Ministry Warns Against Fraudsters Offering Quick Driver’s Licences

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Felix Mhona, has issued a stern warning to illegal driving schools.
Speaking at the 2024 Festive Season Road Traffic Awareness Campaign, Mhona also warning the public against bribing Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID) officials to pass road tests, as such corruption contributes to road traffic accidents. Said Mhona (via <a href="https://www.zbcnews.co.zw/government-warns-corrupt-driving-schools/">ZBC News</a>):
<blockquote>
We have witnessed a surge in driving schools. Consequently, we’ll enforce stricter registration requirements to ensure road safety and order. Our goal is to produce responsible, skilled drivers we can be proud of.
We must not offer bribes to VID officials. I recall a conversation with a relative who claimed to have paid a bribe through a driving school.
I contacted the instructor and examiner, who initially denied the allegation, but the instructor admitted to collecting bribes on their behalf. Let’s refrain from bribing officials.
</blockquote>
An unknown number of driving schools operate without licenses, and some of these schools employ unqualified instructors.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

The government is warning illegal driving schools and people not to bribe officials to pass road tests. The Minister says they will make sure driving schools follow the rules to keep roads safe. Some driving schools are not licensed and have unqualified instructors. Don't pay bribes to pass tests. The goal is to have responsible drivers on the road. Remember, safety comes first!

Government Warns Illegal Driving Schools

The Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID) has immediately banned visitors from wearing revealing clothes such as shorts, sleeveless tops, and miniskirts at their depots.
According to the <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/vid-bans-revealing-clothing-at-its-depots-sparks-debate/">Chronicle</a>, VID said it is enforcing an existing Government policy on dress codes, particularly in public offices.
Notices announcing the new dress code policy have been posted across all VID depots nationwide, including two prominently displayed at the entrance in Bulawayo. Reads the notice:
<blockquote>
All sleeveless dresses, sleeveless tops, shorts, miniskirts or revealing clothes are not allowed on Government premises.
</blockquote>
Speaking to the Chronicle, a VID official, who requested anonymity, explained that the move was prompted by concerns from male examiners and inspectors.
They reported feeling sexually harassed by some clients who come for road tests dressed in revealing clothing. Said the official:
<blockquote>
You won’t believe it but at one time we had a learner driver who was scantily dressed and the situation was made worse when there was a strong wind which lifted her dress up, revealing everything.
Some come in miniskirts and in the process of changing gears, that skirt becomes even shorter as it goes upwards and for a male inspector, that situation becomes unbearable.
</blockquote>
Contacted for comment, VID national deputy director Eustina Nyathi confirmed the enforcement of the dress code, adding that they did not create new laws but simply enforced an existing policy. She said:
<blockquote>
The dress code issue is not a new thing. If you get to the courts there is a certain fashion that you have to wear and if you are not in sync with that, you will not be allowed in. It’s as simple as that.
</blockquote>
She said the department had received numerous complaints from both its staff and members of the public taking examinations at the depots, prompting the implementation of the dress code policy.
However, Bulawayo City’s Ward 17 councillor, Sikhululekile Moyo, argued that the policy was discriminatory and should be reversed.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

The Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID) has banned visitors from wearing revealing clothes like shorts, sleeveless tops, and miniskirts at their depots. This is to enforce a government policy on dress codes in public offices. Some male examiners and inspectors felt uncomfortable when clients dressed in revealing clothes during road tests. The ban was put in place to address this issue. VID confirmed the dress code enforcement, stating it was not a new rule but an existing policy. However, some people feel the policy is discriminatory and should be reversed.

VID Bans Revealing Clothing At All Its Depots

The Vehicle Inspection Department’s depot in Eastlea, Harare, is set to be transformed into a state-of-the-art training management centre. This centre will accommodate the Central Vehicle Registry (CVR), the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, and Road Motor Transportation.
Road and certificate of competency tests will shift from the VID depot in Eastlea. Light vehicles will be tested at the Belvedere depot, while buses and trucks will undergo testing at a newly designated site near the Kuwadzana roundabout.
On Thursday, March 28, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona personally led a delegation on an inspection tour of the VID depots in Eastlea and Belvedere, as well as the newly established site near the Kuwadzana roundabout. Speaking after the tour, Minister Mhona said, as quoted by <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/vid-eastlea-depot-to-be-re-purposed/">The Herald</a>:
<blockquote>
I am happy that today we are here in the Kuwadzana area and others might be surprised by what is the ministry doing at this particular point in time.
But I want to thank His Excellency Cde Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa our visionary leader.
As I always say, we have a good leader who then gives us the trajectory of what we should pursue in terms of infrastructural development projects.
We started at Eastlea depot where we did our tour then we moved to Belvedere and finally we are here.
We own this place as a ministry and we are talking of 33 hectares. It is virgin land where we are proposing to say we need to decongest.
You know we have got CVR right in the city centre, and we have got Eastlea VID again which is also congested in terms of operations.
The idea behind what we are doing as a Ministry is to think outside the box and see how we can buttress and also augment the financing modalities when it comes to the Treasury. We want to use our own resources within the Ministry.
We have the Traffic Safety Council, we have ZINARA, and we have CMED. So we should talk about civil works. We have got CMED in place and if you talk of funding, we have ZINARA.
If you talk of safety concerns, we have the Traffic Safety Council. So you will see us having one centre when it comes to transport solutions.
So we are going to be having a transport management centre housed at Eastlea VID. We are going to be relocating the tests that you have seen in terms of certificate of competency, in terms of the provisional tests, that were done in that particular depot.
</blockquote>
Mhona also revealed that a new weighbridge will also be constructed at the new depot by the Kuwadzana roundabout.
He said the training centre at Belvedere could be upgraded with the private sector partnering with the Ministry.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

VID Eastlea Depot Set To Be Re-purposed

At least four Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID) officers based at Chitungwiza Depot located at Makoni Shopping Centre are under probe for allegedly soliciting money from people acquiring driver’s licences and provisional (learner’s) licences.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona and a team from his office visited the depot on Monday, 4 March unannounced after receiving messages and anonymous letters sent to his office alleging egregious corruption at the depot.
Mhona spoke to driving instructors and the public waiting to take their tests at the depot.
During the conversations, the names of the four examiners were continuously mentioned, prompting the minister to order investigations. Said Mhona (<a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/four-chitungwiza-vid-depot-officers-face-probe/">via The Herald</a>):
<blockquote>
This was a surprise visit here at Chitungwiza VID. The purpose of us coming here together with my team from the ministry and VID officials from head office was basically to drive and run with the vision of His Excellency Cde Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa that we don’t tolerate corruption in this land.
So we are here to demonstrate to the people of Zimbabwe that whenever we say we have a listening President, he is saying I want you to go and descend on VID.
Why VID? Because several anonymous letters were coming through stating we have problematic officers but I said at times you need to be on the ground to hear for yourself.
So I came here unannounced to engage the officials and the stakeholders who are very important as they deal with issues of testing.
As you have seen, I have engaged with the citizenry, those who were waiting to be tested for the provisional licences and also for the certificate of competency, which is the road test, and also the stakeholders — the instructors.
But you know the problem is it takes two to tango and at the end of the day you have seen that whenever you address people on issues of corruption at times the people don’t open up, but eventually if you engage them bilaterally you hear more.
</blockquote>
Mhona said the officers were likely to be moved from the depot as investigations continued. He said:
<blockquote>
My team is going to engage and interrogate and also carry out engagements with the officers who have been named and shamed.
And we are saying in the meantime, come this week, we are going to be moving those officials from here so that they don’t continue victimising our people.
</blockquote>
A local businessman and founder of Ring Driving School Onias Sanangura thanked Mhono for engaging stakeholders, saying they will go a long way in eradicating corruption.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Four "Corrupt" Chitungwiza VID Depot Examiners Face Probe

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID) and the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) have launched an operation to “stop and search” vehicles on major highways during the festive season.
Speaking at the festive season road safety awareness campaign launch in Harare, ZRP spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said they want to minimise road traffic accidents. <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200020958/police-vid-tscz-launch-traffic-blitz">NewsDay</a> quoted Nyathi as saying:
<blockquote>
I want to reiterate, that we will take action. It is not about just driving. It is being safety conscious and responsible on the country’s roads.
We need our drivers to change their attitudes and realise that they play a key role in terms of the safety of Zimbabweans and visitors during the festive period.
</blockquote>
Transport and Infrastructural Development Deputy Minister Joshua Sacco urged the VID to enforce “all aspects of vehicle fitness, with particular emphasis on public transport”. Added Sacco:
<blockquote>
Law enforcers must do their work without fear or favour, and I expect that the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) will provide adequate resources to create a conducive environment for the festive season road safety awareness campaign.
It is for this reason that, within the context of the whole government approach the key players in road safety including, but not limited to the TSCZ, ZRP and VID, among others, will effective this weekend, deploy throughout the country and roll out a festive season road safety education and awareness campaign across all 10 provinces of the country.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe usually records an increase in road accidents during the festive period due to an increase in travel and traffic coupled with poorly maintained roads and rainy weather which reduces visibility.
Moreover, the celebration and merriment associated with Christmas may lead to irresponsible driving behaviours, such as speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Law enforcement agents have been accused of taking bribes from drivers of overloaded or unroadworthy vehicles resulting in accidents.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Police, VID And Traffic Safety Council Launch Traffic Blitz

More than half of the 65 000 people who took road tests between April and June this year failed to pass the examination, a new report by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) shows.
Only 45.5 percent (about 29 000) of those who took the certificate of competency test passed.
Passing the road test at the Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID) is mandatory for one to acquire a driver’s licence.
The high failure rate has been attributed to a lack of practice and nervousness among prospective drivers.
According to the report, about 44 000 out of the 71 981 prospective drivers who sat the provisional driver’s licence test passed, representing a 62.7 percent pass rate. Part of the report says:
<blockquote>
At national level, 65 453 candidates undertook the Certificate of Competency test during the second quarter of 2023, of which less than half (45.5 percent) succeeded.
In all provinces, except Harare and Mashonaland East, the proportions of candidates who passed the certificate of competency tests during the second quarter of 2023 were less than 50 percent, ranging from 29.1 percent in Midlands to 41.3 percent in Manicaland.
About 84 percent of the individuals who went for retests succeeded.
</blockquote>
Speaking in an interview with <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/55-percent-failing-drivers-licence-tests/">The Sunday Mail</a>, Transport and Infrastructural Development Permanent Secretary Joy Makumbe said:
<blockquote>
The ministry considers this as an improvement from the last decade, where the pass rate was hovering between 22 and 30 percent.
This improvement is attributed to the acquisition of better equipment by driving schools.
This pass rate is statistically comparable to other advanced countries.
</blockquote>
Harare Driving School Association president Macnally Mbedzi claimed that a lack of road signs and road markings in the city was contributing to the poor pass rates. He said:
<blockquote>
We believe the poor pass rates could be a result of things such as a lack of road signs and road markings, among other things.
There is also the problem of not having a proper training ground that has proper facilities, for example, a facility for hill-start training, three-point turn markings and parallel parking spaces.
If we can have a proper training ground and proper infrastructure, higher pass rates can be obtained.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

55 Percent Failing Driver’s Licence Road Tests - ZimStat

The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development (MOTID) recently announced its plans to introduce a plastic driver’s licence to replace the metal disc. 
Below, MOTID addresses some of the questions raised by members of the public about the new plastic licence.
<blockquote>
Is this a SADC Driver’s Licence?
-This new licence is valid in 25 countries in SADC, COMESA and EAC Regions (including Zimbabwe), without conversion.
Is it available in all Provinces?
-Yes it can be obtained through VID offices and collection will be from your nearest Post Office
-The acquisition of new driver’s licence has been decentralised.
When is it being launched or coming into effect?
-It will be launched/ come into effect on 19 June 2023.
Does it mean there will be a Re-Test after 5 years?
-No re-test will apply. Once you are a licence holder your photo and biometrics will be updated every 5 years. A vision test will also be conducted during renewal.
-Validity of 5 years ensure driver’s suitability regarding health and vision; as well as updating of credentials (including biometric).
-For those on the backlog its validity will be from the date the new plastic licence is issued.
-For public service vehicle drivers the old rules will apply.
Are the old metal licence discs going to be phased out and replaced with plastic?
-The metal disc remains valid, but MOTID will announce the phase out date in future.
Do I have to get a licence to put a trailer behind my car?
-For old licence holders no.
-MOTID is developing capacity in test yards to accommodate this aspect but as of now, no.
Is this new driver’s licence secure?
-Yes. It has numerous security features that will enhance its credibility.
-It will also eliminate the presence of unlicenced drivers.
What is a QR Code?
-It is a machine-readable code that will be used to verify the credentials of a licence holder.
After applying for a DL card/ passing my road test where do I collect my licence?
-On application, you have to state your preferred Zimpost Agency near you.
How do I know my licence is ready for collection?
-A text message will be sent advising you that the licence is ready for collection. Please ensure that you provide the correct mobile number on the application.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

EXPLAINER: Transport Ministry Responds To Questions On Plastic Driver's Licence

The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has advised members of the public to ignore a job advert message purportedly originating from the Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID).
The message, which has been circulating on social media platforms, is inviting people who are trained as teachers or are university degree holders to contact a number provided and pay money via InnBucks to secure employment at VID.
The Ministry of Transport has dismissed the message as fake and warned the public to be wary of being scammed. The Ministry said:
<blockquote>
Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development wishes to notify the public of a fake recruitment message circulating on social media purporting to offer employment at the Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID).
Kindly note that the Public Service Commission is mandated to recruit human capital on behalf of the Government of Zimbabwe and no individuals have been authorised to do the same.
We, therefore, urge the public to ignore such claims and call our toll-free numbers 08013121-3 for verification before any financial losses, which we won’t be liable for.
</blockquote>
According to <a href="https://www.rd.com/article/how-to-identify-a-scammer/">Reader’s Digest</a>, here is how to identify scammers:
<blockquote>
Online scammers often claim to be contacting you on behalf of businesses, brands or organizations you know and trust.
If a company or government agency unexpectedly call you on the phone, that’s a tip-off that a scammer may be on the other end of the line.
Beware of anyone who attempts to rush or push you into making a decision without first giving you time to verify and thoughtfully consider their requests.
Scan any emails, messages or online chats you receive for misspellings, grammatical errors, strange subject lines or other discrepancies.
Criminals build fake profiles on dating apps to lure you in with the promise of love, sometimes resorting to love bombing—and then try to coerce you into giving gifts or cash.
On social networks and fake online retailers that are created specifically to appear to be the real thing, it’s not uncommon to find goods at steep discounts. Trust your instincts, and know that if a price is too good to be true, it’s likely a scam.
A promise of easy money – No legitimate financial investment opportunity is sure to ever pay off 100% of the time—and cannot legally be advertised as “guaranteed” income—so be very leery of anyone promising such.
Requests an unusual payment option – It’s not uncommon for romance scammers or someone who’s hacked a friend’s social media account to request that you send money using peer-to-peer payment systems (PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, etc.), gift cards, Western Union, wire transfers or cryptocurrency tokens.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Scam Alert: VID Recruitment Message Is Fake- Ministry Of Transport

The COVID induced closure of the Vehicle Inspection Department that issues driver’s licenses to learners has forced some aspiring drivers to resort to using fake drivers’ licenses in a bid to bypass security checks countrywide, New Zimbabwe reports.
This was revealed by Zimbabwe Driving Schools Owners Association (ZDSOA) which implored the government to allow them to resume operations because according to them schooling and other sectors of the economy have reopened:
<blockquote>It is our concern that some desperate clients are being duped by fraudsters who are issuing fake drivers’ licences to learner drivers who are in need of the documents to secure employment and those who desperately need to drive for business or essential trips authorised under this lockdown.
It has been noted that the prolonged closure of the VID learner testing even though learner’s licences were granted a six months extension has affected preparations for road tests since there is uncertainty surrounding driver testing resumption.
In our previous engagements, it has been put to us that we are classified under teaching and learning. However, we indicated that our learning environment and testing has less exposure. Although we felt that our exposure is lesser as compared to tertiary institutions, we were expecting a resumption of testing when tertiary institutions resumed.
Taking cognisance of the fact that driver training and testing is an essential service to ensure a safe driving environment on our roads, it is anticipated that we will be given dates in due course,” ZDSOA said in a statement. The association submitted to the ministry of transport, the guidelines we are following to minimise the risk of transmitting Covid-19 and we believe there will be less risk during testing at VID.”
Since our clients are aged 16 years and above, we expect them to be responsible enough to adapt to the measures put in place to safeguard their lives and those of others.
During practical driving lessons, we stand guided by the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe regulations which makes it mandatory for a single learner in the vehicle per given time and strictly without passengers. We will also maintain client registers also according to Traffic Safety Council regulations.
“This system can be employed for contact tracing in compliance with WHO standards in the case of transmissions. Our members have been conscientised by the provincial Covid-19 task force teams on the statutory requirements that every formal business is required to fulfil in order to operate.</blockquote>
VID is one of the government departments that was closed as COVID-19 cases spiked in July.
More: <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/fake-drivers-licences-flood-market-as-vid-remains-closed-due-to-covid-19/">New Zimbabwe</a>

Motorists Resort To Using Fake Driver's Licenses As VID Remains Closed

The government has extended by six months the validity of provisional driving licences and defensive driving certificates which expired from March 30.
The closure of the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) during the country’s lockdown has necessitated an extension of the validity of the documents.
According to Statutory Instrument (SI) 144 of 2020, the validity of a learner’s licence which expired after 30 March shall be extended automatically when the lockdown ends. It said:
<blockquote>The principal order [SI, Public Health (COVID -19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) (Amendment) Order, 2020 (No. 11)] is amended by the insertion after section 16 of the following section— deferment of expiry of certain documents issued under Cap. 12:11 17.
If the period of validity of a learner’s licence expires after the 30th March 2020, its validity shall be automatically extended from the date of expiry to a date ending 180 days thereafter, or to the date when the national lockdown ends, whichever is the earlier date.</blockquote>
According to the S1, defensive driving certificates which expired on March 30 will also be extended by six months. It adds:
<blockquote>If the period of validity stated on a defensive driving certificate expires after the 30th March 2020, its validity shall be automatically extended from the date of expiry to a date ending 180 days thereafter, or to the date when the national lockdown ends, whichever is the earlier date.</blockquote>
The extension also applied to public service drivers who were due for retesting when the lockdown was announced. SI 144 2020 says:
<blockquote>If the date on which a public service vehicle driver must be re-tested falls due at any time between the 30th March 2020, and the date when national lockdown ends, the driver shall be re-tested on a date or dates to be notified by the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development by general notice in the Gazette, and until such date or dates the public service vehicle drivers concerned are deemed to have been duly and successfully re-tested.</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/govt-extends-validity-of-provisional-driving-licences/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Chronicle</a></h4>

Validity Of Provisional Driving Licences Extended

The <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Zimbabwe_Republic_Police" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP)</a>, the <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/ZINARA" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Zimbabwe National Roads Authority (ZINARA)</a> and the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) have launched a joint operation to weed out unroadworthy and unlicensed vehicles.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Paul_Nyathi" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Paul Nyathi</a> encouraged people to register their vehicles and also to change ownership when they sell their vehicles. He said:
<blockquote>People should register their vehicles and license them to avoid any inconveniences on the road.
… when our detectives are doing investigations they track some vehicles to seven or more people, all claiming to have sold the car hence as police we have decided to launch this kind of an operation that involves all the arms of the transport sector.</blockquote>
The Operation comes when there has been a spike in cases of armed robberies committed by people driving vehicles without number plates.
Recently, forex dealers at Makoni Shopping Centre in Chitungwiza were robbed of thousands of dollars by suspects who were using vehicles without number plates.
<h4>More: <a href="https://ztn.co.zw/stream/2020/02/zrp-launches-blitz-against-unregistered-vehicles/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ZTN</a></h4>

VID Latest News

Latest Jobs