By Patience Gondo
Government has removed the requirement for mandatory retesting of public service vehicle (PSV) drivers as part of a broader review of licences, permits, levies, and fees in the transport sector aimed at improving the ease of doing business.
In a press statement on Thursday, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Hon Felix Mhona, said the decision follows a Cabinet directive to eliminate excessive administrative costs and streamline the regulatory environment.
“As part of the foregoing reviews, Government completely removed the requirement for retesting of PSV drivers,” said Mhona.
He also said the change means compliance with retesting is no longer enforceable at law, and that law enforcement agencies have been advised accordingly.
The reforms, approved by Cabinet on September 9 2025, target fees charged by the Central Vehicle Registry (CVR), Road Motor Transportation (RMT) and the Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID).
The review focused on reducing or eliminating unjustifiable charges, including licensing fees, overlapping permit charges, monitoring and compliance levies deemed punitive and transactional fees that hinder operational efficiency.
Mhona said the reforms were implemented through Statutory Instrument 6 of 2026 and Statutory Instrument 10 of 2026, gazetted on January 9 and January 12 2026, respectively.
He further said the Government remains committed to creating a modern, efficient and business friendly transport regulatory framework and urged drivers, vehicle owners and transport operators to comply fully with road transport regulations and take advantage of the revised fee structure.
The downward review of transport fees and regulatory requirements was directed during the first Cabinet meeting of 2025 by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, as part of efforts to strengthen Zimbabwe’s economic competitiveness.