Staff Reporter

The Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID) has made life easier for those seeking Provisional Drivers Licences (PDLs) as it has camped at the Zimbabwe Agriculture Show (ZAS) to issue PDLs to people.

In an interview with this publication yesterday, VID’s Senior Vehicle Inspector, Lovemore Masiyachengo said that as VID, they had adopted the Government’s call of availing services closer to the people; hence they have decided to take the Electronic Learner's Licence Testing System (ELLT) to this year’s ZAS.

 “Our wish is to bring services closer to the people. This is the reason we have chosen to exhibit at ZAS. We have been exhibiting at other events such as the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF). We realised that a driver’s licence is a basic document that every Zimbabwean should own, that’s why we have decided to issue PDLs at this year’s show,” said Masiyachengo.

Masiyachengo said that since Monday this week, a number of people have thronged the VID stand wanting to register and attempt to get the PDLs.

“On Monday, 95 people took the test. On Tuesday the number increased to 149 and on Wednesday we had 214 writing for the PDLs. We expect this number to surpass 500 people today (yesterday),” said Masiyachengo.

Masiyachengo added that only ZWL1000.00 was being charged for one to book for the PDL test. He added that the VID decided to abandon the manual PDL examination system in favour of the electronic learner's licence testing system to reduce human interface and curb cases of corruption.

The VID senior instructor further said that they have decentralised the ELLT to other provinces and districts in line with the Government’s policy of devolution.

Prospecting drivers interviewed by this publication at the VID stand, thanked the Government for the little amount that was being charged by VID and said that the fee would encourage other people to consider taking driving lessons.

“I came here today and booked for my PDL test. In few minutes I had already written my test and passed. I want to thank VID and the Government for bringing these services closer to the people. I also want to thank the Government for a fair fee that is being charged for one to take the test,” said Freeman Tatenda Murenjekwa.

Meanwhile, VID launched the electronic learner's licence testing system (ELLT) in 2019, which aimed at reducing corruption in awarding of licences by the VID and, in turn, reduce road carnage.
The ELLT was developed under the Zimbabwe Integrated Transport Management Information System (ZIMTIS) project, which is a public-private-partnership initiative between the Government and Southern Regional Trading Company.