Zim Drivers Can Claim Refunds for Fines Issued Over Non-Existent Retest Requirement as Minister Clears Confusion

Zimbabwe’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Felix Tapiwa Mhona, has finally put to rest the confusion that has been playing out on the roads since the gazetting of Statutory Instrument 6 of 2026 on 9 January.

As SA Trucker reported immediately after the gazette was published, the mandatory public service vehicle (PSV) driver retest was officially scrapped. However, despite the law being clear on paper, drivers continued reporting that traffic officers were still issuing fines and tickets for “no retest” days after the requirement had already fallen away.

That disconnect between the law and what was happening at roadblocks left many truck and bus drivers unsure of where they stood, especially those operating cross border or moving daily through enforcement heavy routes.

The minister has now clarified the situation in no uncertain terms, confirming that the PSV retest requirement was completely removed under SI 6 of 2026 and that law enforcement agencies were notified that compliance is no longer enforceable by law. His statement references the same gazette that SA Trucker relied on when breaking the news on the 9th.

In simple terms, once the gazette was published, the retest requirement ceased to exist in law.

This clarification strengthens the position of drivers who were fined or issued tickets after 9 January for failing to produce proof of a PSV retest. Industry voices are now urging affected drivers to approach their legal advisors for guidance on challenging those fines and pursuing refunds where enforcement took place illegally.

While the minister also linked the change to a wider review of transport fees and regulatory charges, for drivers on the ground the issue is straightforward. You cannot be fined for a requirement that no longer exists.

For Zimbabwean truckers who were stopped, delayed, or penalised after the gazette date, the minister’s clarification closes the loophole and removes any remaining doubt. The retest is gone, and fines issued after 9 January should be challenged through the proper legal channels.