The Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Felix Mhona, has dismissed claims suggesting that all licensed drivers in Zimbabwe will soon be required to undergo mandatory retesting after a fixed period.
Speaking to The Sunday Mail, Minister Mhona clarified that there is no such proposal currently under consideration by the Government, and no blanket retest policy has been introduced. He said:
There is no new proposal for a blanket retest system for all drivers. The recent confusion stemmed from misinterpretations of the SADC licence renewal process and existing professional driver regulations.
Minister Mhona explained that, in accordance with Statutory Instrument 168 of 2006, the mandatory five-year retesting requirement applies specifically to drivers of public service vehicles (PSVs) and to those operating haulage or freight vehicles with a carrying capacity exceeding 10 tonnes.
For holders of ordinary driver’s licences, however, the recently introduced Southern African Development Community (SADC) driver’s licence, although valid for five years, does not require a full retest upon renewal.
Instead, licence renewal will involve the updating of biometric data and the submission of a valid medical report. Added Mhona:
Driving is a profession. Retesting separates professional driving from ordinary driving.
This is key for maintaining a robust database for professional drivers, ensuring their ongoing competence and adherence to evolving regulations and meticulously screening drivers by vehicle category, age (PSV drivers must be between 30 and 70 years old) and health (requiring annual medical examinations for PSV drivers).
Furthermore, the retest acts as a crucial gatekeeper against fake licences through a system verification process and rigorously checking compliance with essential documents like defensive driving certificates and hazardous chemicals certifications.
The system further mandates that public service vehicle (PSV) drivers must have a minimum of five years’ driving experience prior to certification.
Its principal function is to ensure compliance with these critical requirements, including the verification of documentation and the successful completion of a practical road test.
Minister Mhona stressed that Zimbabwe’s approach is consistent with established professional licensing standards, both internationally and within the region. He said:
The retesting of certain driver categories is not unique to Zimbabwe. The United Kingdom, for instance, implements retesting for the ‘D’ driving licence category (passenger-carrying drivers) with intervals dependent on vehicle category and driver age.
Furthermore, within our own Government, one cannot drive an official vehicle before undergoing a retest, and similarly, some private companies conduct tests before allowing drivers to operate company vehicles.
This underscores the principle of ensuring heightened competency for those entrusted with greater responsibility on the road.
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