THE Zimbabwe Revenue Authority will this year initiate the registration of vehicles being imported into the country at border posts in a bid to decongest their in-land offices. Addressing delegates at the International Customs Day commemorations in Harare yesterday, Zimra Commissioner-General Mr Gershem Pasi said they want to create a one-stop shop clearance office for imported motor vehicles.

"This year, we look forward to initiating motor vehicle registration at ports of entry and exit so that our valued clients leave the border with the imported vehicles already fitted with Zimbabwean number plates," he said.

Under the current system, people who import vehicles have to buy temporary number plates at the border or travel without number plates to their towns and cities where they would then apply for number plates.

This has in some cases caused inconvenience to the motorists as they are sometimes harassed by the police as they travel from the border to their homes.

Mr Pasi said the process would also help alleviate pressure that the Central Vehicle Registry has been having in distributing number plates to the rising number of people who are importing cars.

"We will be co-ordinating with all parties involved in vehicle clearance to ensure full compliance with the country's laws," Mr Pasi added.

The introduction of this new system would also help eliminate the long queues of vehicles seeking police clearance at various police stations.