Transport Minister feels VID rot

CORRUPTION within the Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID) remains deep rooted despite the computerisation of the driver’s licence issuance system, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Honourable Felix Mhona has said.

Minister Mhona revealed this during a threeday Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development strategic planning workshop held in Mutare this week.

Narrating his brother’s ordeal, Minister Mhona said he was shocked that the Stateowned Central Mechanical Equipment Department (CMED) Driving School was at the centre of the corruption syndicate.

Said Minister Mhona: “We have realised that even after computerising the driver’s licence issuance system, we still have people working long and hard to circumvent the system and get an extra dollar out of it.

“When you get to the VID Drivers’ Licences Department, they will be very serious and you will think they don’t want your money.

“The syndicate involves driving schools as conduits of corruption, transferring the money from the client to our officers. Personally I went through this.

“My young brother was tested in Eastlea and he said he was made to pay US$100. When I made a follow-up on the case, I was informed that the driving school operators come with the client straight to the offices after they would have already been handed the bribe.

“When I summoned the parties involved, I was surprised that our own CMED was involved. I was told that the loot is shared using a 70:30 percent basis.

“After deliberating on the issue, I instructed them to return the money. The CMED instructor offered to pay back the whole amount,” said Minister Mhona.

He said the levels of corruption in the VID driver’s licence issuance department is endemic.

“We are dealing with a cancerous situation. It is endemic. However, we will not sit down and mourn. Where we cannot reach electronically, we have other initiatives that will cover the gap, including mobile driving schools, and so on,” he said.

Currently, a learner driver has to part ways with US$60 for the written licence test (US$20) as well as the practical test (US$40).

Recent surveys conducted by The Manica Post revealed that in Mutare, the learner is further expected to pay an un-receipted US$150 for facilitation of a smooth passage through the test process.

This payment is made through the driving school.