UZ to produce 7 million number plates per year

Zim Now Writer

In a development that is expected to reduce the import bill as well as the cost of vehicle registration plates, the University of Zimbabwe has completed refurbishing a factory shell and installing a production plant capable of producing seven million number plates annually.

The US$1 million project is being jointly implemented by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development in conjunction with the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development.

During a post-cabinet briefing, Acting Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Sekai Nzenza said refurbishment of the factory shell to house the National Number Plate Programme at the University of Zimbabwe is 90 percent complete, with the production plant having been installed.

“The plant has the capacity to produce seven million e-number plates annually.”

Two years ago, Cabinet approved the localisation of plate making, with government putting in a US$1 million investment to start the process that will save around US$800 000 in imports annually. As a result, Zimbabwe’s number plates that were expected to follow international standards and common Sadc guidelines would cost motorists just over US$45, way less than the US$80 that imported plates cost.