29 Mar 2023

The Ministry of Transport and Public Works has no intention to increase period of driver’s licenses to 10 years, Parliament has heard.

Answering a question on behalf of transport and public works minister recently, Assistant Minister of Health, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe said the current renewal of driver’s license which was done every five years was not too long and cumbersome. Mr Lelatisitswe said during the COVID-19 era, provisions through legal instruments were made for drivers whose licenses were expiring to drive with the expired cards. “This was also done by other neighbouring countries such as South Africa and Namibia,” he said.

He also noted that renewal of driver’s license every five years was a compliance issue meant to promote safety by undertaking timely review of the fitness of the drivers’ ability to be on road, such that those who were unfit can be excluded from driving without delay.

However, he said the ministry was improving service delivery through introduction of  technology such as the Q-flo monitoring platform and on-line payment as well as allowing customers to renew their licenses three months before the expiry date. “These interventions are proving effective in reducing congestion at the Department of Road Transport and Safety offices,” he said. Furthermore, he noted that the five-year period was consistent with harmonising the legislation within the countries in the three African regional economic blocs, such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and Eastern African Community (EAC).

“This harmonisation facilitates the use of Botswana driver’s license in such countries,” he said. MP for Tonota, Mr Pono Moatlhodi, had asked the minister to state whether the renewal of driver’s license every five years was not too cumbersome as evidenced during COVID-19 era. Mr Moatlhodi asked the minister to consider increasing the renewal period to at least 10 years like that of Omang cards with the view to ease crowding at the DRTS. ENDS