Government collects nearly US$18m from vehicle number plates in the first half of 2025

VEHICLE NUMBER PLATES

The government raised almost US$18 million from the issuance of vehicle number plates between January and June 2025, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona told Parliament.

Revenue breakdown and parliamentary disclosure

Minister Mhona disclosed the figures during a National Assembly sitting in response to a question from Emakhandeni‑Luveve MP Descent Bajila. He said the core revenue from number‑plate issuance totalled US$13,790,915 for the six‑month period.

Additional collections from the Central Vehicle Registry, Zimpost, and the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) brought the combined total to roughly US$18 million. Mhona framed the disclosure as part of the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability, noting that the information was provided in line with constitutional obligations.

Pricing controversy and government response

MP Bajila pressed the minister on the initial high pricing of number plates and asked whether the government planned further reductions given the sizeable revenue. Minister Mhona explained that the original pricing formed part of broader fiscal measures designed to bolster government revenue. He said the policy was coordinated through the Minister of Finance as one of several revenue‑raising initiatives.

Responding to public concern, Mhona said the government subsequently reduced the price to make number plates more affordable. “The listening government listened to people when they were saying the price was too high. This is why it had to be reduced to make sure that everyone is accommodated,” he told the assembly.

Related parliamentary issues: Rent Boards functionality

During the same sitting, MPs raised concerns about the limited functionality of provincial Rent Boards. Then‑Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities Zhemu Soda told Parliament that only two of ten provincial Rent Boards, Harare and Midlands, are currently operational.

Soda explained that the boards, established under Section 23 of the Housing and Building Act, act as tribunals for landlord‑tenant disputes, including eviction and rent matters.

He said adverts to fill vacancies in other provinces had been placed but attracted little response. Clerks are present in all provinces to receive complaints, but eviction cases and other disputes are referred to the nearest operational board or to provincial magistrates’ courts. On rent regulation, Soda cited Section 39(4) of Statutory Instrument 32 of 2007, noting that rent increases cannot exceed 30% per annum, and that Rent Boards intervene only when parties cannot agree on fair rent.

Takeaway

The parliamentary session highlighted two contrasting themes: the government’s success in generating significant revenue from vehicle registration and the ongoing administrative challenges in delivering tenant protection mechanisms nationwide. Lawmakers signalled the need for continued oversight on revenue use and accelerated efforts to restore full functionality to provincial Rent Boards.

vehicle number plates revenue Zimbabwe 2025