Freeman Razemba and Felex Share
POLICE have been ordered to stop arresting motorists who are yet to buy new licence discs until the June 30 extension deadline.

They will still stick to the June 30 deadline as officially communicated to Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri by the Zimbabwe National Road Administration.
However, some motorists have been fined for not displaying new discs.

Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena yesterday confirmed the force’s position.

He said Zinara wrote them through Comm-Gen Chihuri’s office informing them that they had extended the deadline to June 30.

“We will start arresting people as they had requested and our position hasn’t changed. They requested and we acceded to that,” Snr Asst Comm Bvudzijena said.
He, however, said those who were fined will not be refunded.

“An offence is an offence and the law provides that one should have a valid licence disc but because of the hiccups, we are trying to create an understanding between the motorists and the police. As for those arrested, there is no recourse,” he said.

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He said people were given a grace period before the actual enforcement and that had been the practice.
“They (Zinara) started issuing licences late and we hope in future we won’t have such hiccups.”

On Tuesday, Zinara scrapped the June 30 vehicle licensing deadline extension hardly a week after granting the respite. They said motorists who failed to display the new licence discs would be fined starting on Wednesday.