PUBLIC OUTCRY: VID ZITF Licence Fees Spark "Extortion" Allegations

BULAWAYO — The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) was meant to be a showcase of convenience and progress, but the Vehicle Inspectorate Department’s (VID) on-site presence has left a sour taste for many motorists. The department’s decision to offer expedited driving licence services during the 2026 exhibition has triggered a wave of public frustration, with citizens leveling accusations of "extortion" regarding the US$50 fee charged for on-demand licence discs.

The core of the dispute lies in a perceived "double-dipping" by the authorities. Motorists seeking to collect their long-delayed plastic licences or convert older metal documents to the new SADC-compliant cards were presented with a US$50 fee at the exhibition grounds. For many, this felt unjustified.

"I obtained the plastic driver’s licence at ZITF, but I feel it is unfair because I paid the processing fees back in 2019, yet they failed to issue the licences on time," noted one disgruntled motorist.

Many residents pointed to the standard US$15 fee usually associated with duplicate or standard licence processing at VID depots, arguing that the ZITF premium was excessive for a service they had effectively already paid for years prior.

However, according to existing regulatory frameworks, including Statutory Instrument 158 of 2022, the "Urgent Driver’s Licence" fee is legally set at US$50. The VID’s on-site service at ZITF appears to have been categorized under this "urgent" or "on-demand" provision, allowing for immediate printing, as opposed to the standard, slower issuance process.

While the department pledged to print discs within minutes, the reality on the ground was more complex. A significant number of applicants reported waiting several days for their documents, leading to overcrowding and anxiety at the VID stand. In a visible attempt to manage the mounting pressure and public anger, VID officials were observed working through the night on Saturday, April 25, continuing operations until midnight to clear the backlog and honor their commitment to attendees before the close of the fair.

The incident highlights a critical gap in communication between the authorities and the public. While the legal basis for the US$50 fee exists, the perception of "extortion" likely stems from a lack of clarity regarding the distinction between "standard" and "expedited" service tiers.

For citizens already exhausted by years of delays in receiving their plastic licences, being asked to pay a premium to bypass a backlog created by the state itself, rather than by the motorist, is a friction point that requires urgent attention. As the dust settles on ZITF 2026, the episode serves as a reminder that efficiency, while vital, must be accompanied by transparent pricing and a genuine commitment to clearing historical administrative bottlenecks.

The President’s tour of the ZITF stands.

VID ZITF licence fees 2026