Story by John Nhandara
The annual meeting, convened under the auspices of the United Nations, focuses on shaping the future of inland transport through innovation, automation and harmonised regulatory frameworks.
Zimbabwe’s delegation is led by Honourable Mhona, the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, who is set to address a ministerial panel discussion on innovation and automation in inland transport systems.
The session began on Tuesday with a closed-door meeting involving government officials and the committee chairperson.
The Managing Director of the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, Mr Munesu Munodawafa, who is part of the Zimbabwean delegation, said the discussions are critical for aligning transport regulations across borders.
“We are preparing for the ministers’ meeting, which is starting tomorrow onwards. This committee deals with various laws related to the management and connectivity of inland transport, including motor vehicles, and seeks to improve trade through inter-modal and interlinkages between various countries. It is important that the regulations are uniform,” he said.
Running under the theme “Driving Innovation for the Future of Inland Transport,” the 88th session brings together government officials, UN member states and heads of international organisations to deliberate on issues such as automation, artificial intelligence and digitalisation.
The forum also aims to develop harmonised policy and regulatory frameworks to ensure efficient inland transport systems across road, rail and inland waterways, enhancing global trade connectivity and safety.
