Last year, the United Kingdom denied Zimbabweans to convert their driver’s licenses into the United Kingdom license. The UK’s Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA) refused to convert Zimbabwean licenses unless applicants provided a Blue Copy Competence certificate.
Zimbabwe’s Central Vehicle Registry (CVR) was unable to provide the certificates of competence, which would be effective for 30 days while the UK processed the license.
Last year, Transport and Infrastructural Development Permanent Secretary Engineer Theodius Chinyanga revealed that the UK’s DVLA started demanding certificates of competency upon request for conversion of the Zimbabwean license to a British license because some Zimbos were using fake license discs and causing accidents.
After public outcry, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development engaged the UK’s DVLA so that it would not request a certificate of competence.
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The Government has reached an understanding with the UK government and Zimbabweans can now convert their driver’s licenses with the DVLA.
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development shared the official policy position regarding the conversion of Zimbabwean licenses in the United Kingdom:
“The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development through the Central Vehicle Registry in conjunction with the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA) of the United Kingdom is advising the public of the new policy position about the exchange of the Zimbabwe driver’s license in the United Kingdom whereby DVLA will only entertain the exchange of the class 4 driver’s license for those competently tested for driving light motor vehicles and class 2 for those driving trucks.
“Holders of class 2 driver’s licenses intending to drive light motor vehicles must either come back to Zimbabwe and downgrade or obtain their class 4 in the United Kingdom. Those intending to downgrade from class 2 to class 4 are required to approach the Central Vehicle Registry (CVR) offices for assistance before visiting the Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID).
