Tinted Window Ban Declared Invalid: Charamba Calls Out ‘Unauthorized’ Order
Presidential Spokesperson George Charamba has dismissed a directive banning tinted windows on private and public vehicles, describing it as unauthorized and lacking legal foundation.
The directive, announced Tuesday by Provincial Affairs and Devolution Secretary Tafadzwa Muguti, was intended to curb drug abuse and violent crimes allegedly committed inside vehicles with obscured windows.
Muguti made the announcement during a press briefing in Harare, ordering police across all provinces to enforce the measure immediately.
“All of you with tinted windows that prevent police from seeing inside your vehicle, remove them immediately. If you do not, the police will do it for you, or your vehicle will be impounded,” he said.
He clarified that only government VIPs, security vehicles, and cars with manufacturer-installed shading were exempt from the ban.
The directive followed a disturbing incident in which a Grade Seven pupil was raped inside a tinted commuter omnibus at Rezende Rank.
Muguti said informal transport operators, commonly known as mushikashika, were priority targets due to their frequent links to criminal activity.
“Tinted windows provide cover for criminal activity. This is about public safety,” he emphasized.
However, Charamba contradicted the move in a post on Twitter, formerly X, using his Dhonzamusoro account.
“KINDLY NOTE: There is no basis in fact or law to the accompanying announcement attributed to Muguti.
“Kindly ignore this miscommunication from an unauthorised office and officer!” he wrote, attaching a video clip of Muguti making the declaration.
The conflicting statements have sparked widespread confusion, with no official clarification issued on whether law enforcement will proceed with the ban.
According to NewZimbabwe.com, Muguti also announced new regulations for rehabilitation centres, stating that only youths brought in by parents or guardians would be admitted — under a mandatory seven-month separation policy.
“Once you submit your child, you will not see them for months. They must be removed from environments that fuel relapse,” he said.
Toll-free hotlines are expected to be activated across provinces to encourage anonymous reporting of drug-related crimes.
Authorities say the initiative is part of a broader strategy to restore public safety and transparency in communities affected by substance abuse and hidden criminal operations.
As the public awaits further clarification, the clash between Muguti and Charamba has raised serious questions about internal coordination and the clarity of authority within government structures.
With law enforcement caught in the middle, citizens remain uncertain whether the tinted window ban will be enforced or quietly withdrawn.
