Justice Minister Clarifies There Is No Legal Ban on Tinted Vehicle Windows

Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi told Parliament on Wednesday that there is currently no law prohibiting tinted car windows, addressing confusion sparked by a recent public statement from a senior government official.

The clarification came after Presidential Secretary Tafadzwa Muguti claimed that vehicle window tinting had been outlawed, causing uncertainty among citizens and prompting questions from Members of Parliament seeking legal clarity on the matter.

During a Question and Answer session in the National Assembly, Zvimba East MP Kudakwashe Mananzva (ZANU PF) raised the issue, asking whether the use of tinted windows had become a criminal offense.

In response, Minister Ziyambi explained:

“The law does permit tinting, as long as it does not impair the driver’s visibility. Discussions are still ongoing with the Minister of Transport, Hon. Felix Mhona, Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe, and other stakeholders regarding specific guidelines for side windows.”

Dangamvura-Chikanga MP Prosper Mutseyami pressed the minister further, seeking clarity on whether Muguti’s declaration was an official government directive or a personal viewpoint.

Ziyambi clarified that only designated government spokespersons — including Information Minister Jenfan Muswere, Information Secretary Nick Mangwana, and Presidential Spokesperson George Charamba — are authorised to make public statements on behalf of the government.

“If someone makes a public pronouncement without being mandated to do so, it should not be regarded as official government policy,” Ziyambi said.

Kuwadzana East MP Charlton Hwende revealed that following Muguti’s comments, some motorists were allegedly fined by police for having tinted windows.

Minister Ziyambi firmly denied that any legal enforcement could be based on social media declarations:

“Police officers act on the basis of Statutory Instruments, not online posts. If any motorists received fines in that context, they have every right to challenge those penalties in court, which will rectify the matter.”

MP Gladys Hlatywayo questioned the government’s approach to resolving apparent contradictions in public communication that had caused widespread confusion. In response, Ziyambi stated that the role of Parliament was to oversee government actions, not to determine or announce policy.

Shortly before Ziyambi’s remarks, Presidential Spokesperson George Charamba had posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Muguti’s statement was not authorized and did not reflect official government policy, attributing the confusion to miscommunication.

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