A heated public debate has erupted online following a statement by the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Nick Mangwana, announcing an immediate ban on tinted windows for both private and public vehicles.
The announcement, which the government says is part of broader efforts to address rising crime and improve public safety, has drawn significant criticism, particularly on social media platforms where users questioned the legal foundation of the decision.
In a post shared via his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Mangwana wrote, “Why do people tint their vehicles? Today’s meeting banned them for both public and private vehicles.” The statement quickly sparked controversy, with many Zimbabweans demanding clarity on the policy’s legality.
Among the first and most vocal critics was well-known social commentator Shadaya Knight, who directly challenged the minister, asking, “Under which law was this made?” His question echoed widespread concern over whether the move had any legal backing or was simply a verbal directive.
Mangwana later responded that the ban “will be gazetted,” implying that the policy was yet to be formally enshrined in law. The admission prompted further backlash, with critics accusing the government of bypassing legal procedures and attempting to enforce a non-existent law.
“Laws can’t be made retroactively,” Shadaya argued in a follow-up post. “You can’t punish an entire nation for the crimes of a few individuals… and also, you cannot say that a law will be gazetted — that’s not how laws work.”
His remarks were widely shared and endorsed by other users, many of whom expressed frustration at what they viewed as a pattern of arbitrary decision-making and disregard for due process by authorities.
The controversy has revived memories of previous attempts by the government to restrict tinted windows — efforts that were similarly met with legal and public resistance due to the absence of a clear statutory instrument.
As of now, no official gazette or legal framework has been published to support the minister’s announcement, and legal experts have warned that enforcement without proper legislation would be unlawful.
Government officials have not yet issued further clarification on when the regulation will be formally introduced or how it will be enforced.
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