The Sunday Mail
Sunday Mail Reporter
Government has submitted designs of the proposed plastic driver’s licence to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for approval, with new disks set to be released early this year.
Procurement of consumables such as the ribbon, ink and foil required to produce the plastic licence disks is underway.
However, printers would only be bought once SADC approves the designs “to avoid compatibility issues”.
The Central Vehicle Registry (CVR), which is regarded as the issuing authority in Zimbabwe, was given an Issuer Identification Number (IIN) by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) in November last year.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Permanent Secretary Engineer Theodius Chinyanga said the Government submitted the designs to SADC in October last year.
“In compliance with the International Organisation for Standardisation and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 18013 standards on driver’s licences, the ministry applied for the Issuer Identification Number, which uniquely identifies CVR as the issuing authority in Zimbabwe, across all ISO member states.
“The IIN was issued in November 2022,” he said.
“The ministry has since encoded the IIN on the card design and submitted to SADC, who are currently reviewing it.
“While awaiting feedback from SADC, the ministry has initiated the procurement process for the related materials such as ribbon, ink and foil.
“The printers will be procured once final approval is received from SADC so as to avoid compatibility issues.”
Plastic driver’s licences, also known as plastic polymer licences, are already in use in several SADC countries, including South Africa.
The new plastic licences will be printed instantly.
They have security features that will make them difficult to forge and will be machine-scannable to ascertain their authenticity.
The proposed new disc is compliant with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East African Community (EAC) and SADC.
A few years ago, Government introduced polythene-synthetic identity cards to replace the metal ones.
Presently, those who pass driving tests at the Vehicle Inspection Department depots are being issued with temporary paper driver’s licences.
