Zimbabwe defends steep vehicle registration fees amidst economic crisis

The Government of Zimbabwe has defended its decision to introduce high charges for vehicle licensing and registration, despite concerns from lawmakers and the public that the move could have far-reaching economic consequences.

In a heated debate in Parliament, Lupane West legislator Mxolisi Sibanda questioned the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Felix Mhona, about the rationale behind the fees, which range from US$100 for vehicles up to 1500 CCs to US$500 for vehicles with 1500 CCs and above, and $5000 for personalised vehicle number plates.

Mhona responded, “If you go back to school where we were studying Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, where we talk of self-actualisation, this is where it comes into play.

“Even if we were to lower the prices, those who want those personalized number plates are the ones who are advocating for higher prices because they want to be in their special niche market where at the end of the day, they will accord themselves with affluence.”

He added that the fees are not just about the material cost of the number plates, but about the premium service offered to those who opt for personalised plates.

“It’s not about the material, but I want to assure the Hon. Member that whenever it comes to charges, they come through Finance.

“As we deliberate on the Budget, it goes through the Finance Bill which then becomes the Finance Act. These prices will only be gazetted following what Parliament would have approved.”

Sibanda countered that transportation is an economic driver that must be affordable, and making it expensive could have far-reaching consequences.

“The background that I was coming from was the fact that transportation is one of the economic drivers, and when we make it so expensive right from the onset, it then makes transportation and the cost of goods in Zimbabwe quite expensive,” Sibanda said.

Mhona acknowledged the importance of affordable transportation, but emphasised that the funds generated from the fees will be ring-fenced for infrastructure development, which he described as a “noble cause.”

He appealed to Zimbabweans to bear with the government, saying, “Ndisu tinovaka nyika nemaresources edu” (We are building our country with our own resources).

The Minister added that the government is committed to resource mobilisation and infrastructure development, and that the fees are a necessary part of this effort.

“The purpose of the fund is to make sure that we resource-mobilize domestically, that is using our own resources, which is my humble plea to the people of Zimbabwe,” Mhona said.