Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) is planning to introduce electronic Provisional Driver License (e-PDL) tests at Vehicle Inspection Department Depots (VID) in a move to curb corruption.
TSCZ spokesperson Tatenda Chinoda said the e-PDL exams will start on December 1.
“From 1/12/18 PDL exam will be computerized starting with VIDs in Harare,” Chinoda said.
“To discuss more about this please attend the Computerised PDL indaba to be held at traffic Safety Head Office on Wednesday 7 November 2018 from 5-7pm pronto.”
TSCZ plans to introduce e-PDL tests after over 50 VID officers were fired for corruption from 2013 to 2018.
The officers were caught issuing certificates to non-deserving applicants and to non-roadworthy vehicles as well as learner licenses to failed applicants.
“These officers were caught using VID internal control systems because members of the public have not been reporting any cases of being asked for bribes,” VID reported to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructure Development.
“The Chief Vehicle Inspector pointed out that the issue of corruption is complicated, but VID tried to put in place systems to minimize corruption.”
The automation process is also meant to eradicate the chances of manipulating the results.
Zimbabwe is losing US$1 billion every year according to Transparency International.