Government has gazetted Statutory Instrument 6 of 2026, amending the Road Motor Transportation (Public Service Vehicles) regulations, in a move aimed at standardising fees, tighten compliance and modernising the regulation of public service vehicles.
The new regulations in terms of the Road Motor Transportation Act, replace the Fourth Schedule of the 1998 regulations and introduce a revised fee structure covering operator licencing, route authorities, foreign operator permits, transit charges and vehicle inspections.
Under the amendments, an operator’s licence application, inclusive of a three-year licence, now attracts a fee of US$125, while a duplicate licence will cost US$135, route authority applications are pegged at US$20 per vehicle, a fee that also applies to duplicate route authorities.
The regulations also introduce a tiered fee system for foreign operators, with licence validity periods ranging from 14 to 84 days, and total costs rising from US$500 to US$1 250, depending on the duration of stay.
In a bid to strengthen cross-border road transport management, transit charges have been reviewed for public service vehicles registered outside Zimbabwe, with differentiated fees based on vehicle type, axle configuration and route travelled.
Specific charges have also been set for vehicles from Mozambique and Malawi, calculated per 100 kilometres travelled.
The statutory instrument further revises certificate of fitness, driving test and weighbridge fees, while imposing penalties for operating vehicles under a notice prohibiting use.
Locally registered vehicles may pay the stipulated fees in the local currency at the prevailing bank rate on the day of payment.
The new regulations repeal Statutory Instrument 159 of 2022, consolidating the updated framework for public service vehicle operations, as authorities move to enhance road safety, compliance and revenue collection within the transport sector.
