Elderly Persons Appeal for Relief on ZINARA, ZBC Licensing Fees

By Evans Jona

MUTARE – Senior citizens across Zimbabwe are appealing for exemptions or discounted fees on mandatory vehicle licensing requirements, saying the combined cost of Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (ZINARA) and Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) licenses is unaffordable for most pensioners.

Under current regulations, motorists must present proof of a valid ZBC license before obtaining a ZINARA vehicle license disc. For elderly citizens surviving on limited pensions or without formal income, this has become a challenge.

Tobias Nyakatawa (78), a retired schoolteacher from Mutasa, said his car has been parked for months because he cannot afford the required fees.
“I rely on a small pension to get by. Paying for both ZBC and ZINARA licenses at once is too much,” he said. “I only need the car for occasional town errands or clinic visits, but now it’s stuck in the yard.”

In Dangamvura, Agnes Mapuranga (69), who retired as a government health worker, also shared her concerns.

“I no longer drive regularly, but I still need to license the vehicle. The fees are too high when you have no monthly income apart from a small pension,” she said.
Spenser Kufa (74), from Nyanga, said he depends on support from family members and cannot keep up with rising costs.

“At this age, we are no longer economically active. These fees take away the little independence we still have,” he said

The Zimbabwe Senior Citizens Association (ZSCA) is engaging stakeholders on behalf of older persons and has suggested that exemptions or discounts for citizens aged 65 and above would offer needed relief.

ZSCA National Chairman Patrick Ndlovu said the appeal is not about avoiding responsibility, but about making the licensing process more inclusive.

“Many senior citizens have limited or no steady income. The current process does not take this into account. A tailored approach for the elderly would be a step in the right direction,” he said.

ZSCA Project Coordinator Thomas Chimutanda added that the association is receiving growing concerns from its members across the country.

“We are simply calling for a fair and reasonable solution that recognizes the financial realities of our elderly population,” Chimutanda said.

Currently, Zimbabwean tax regulations offer some relief for the elderly in areas such as income tax credits and interest income exemptions. However, these do not extend to licensing fees for road use or broadcasting services.

ZSCA says it will continue engaging relevant authorities with the hope that adjustments can be made to ease the financial pressure on the country’s aging population.