Story by Peter Chivhima
GOVERNMENT is moving closer to the full deployment of an Electronic Traffic Management System (ETMS), a technology-driven enforcement framework aimed at curbing reckless driving and improving road safety, with the first phase expected to go live in the first quarter of the year.
The system, which will rely on surveillance cameras and electronic ticketing, comes amid persistent concerns over traffic indiscipline, particularly in urban centres such as Harare, where violations by pirate taxis and private motorists have contributed to rising accident rates and fatalities.
Announcing progress on the project this Saturday, Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Honourable Kazembe Kazembe, said key preparatory work had been completed, clearing the way for phased implementation.
“There are various services under this programme, and we have already made significant progress. The process has been completed, and TelOne has been identified as the key local technical partner for implementation. TelOne is collaborating with a Chinese manufacturer that produces these traffic management systems. Infrastructure deployment, including surveillance cameras, is now underway,” said Honourable Kazembe.
He added that TelOne has since ordered the required hardware from China while its local software development team is building the management system.
“This is work in progress and we are moving towards Phase One deployment within this quarter. By May or June, citizens should begin to see traffic cameras in cities and the first wave of electronic ticketing becoming operational,” he added.
Public transport associations have welcomed the development, describing it as a positive step towards improving compliance and safety on the roads.
“What the government is planning is progressive. There are many motorists, both public transport and private, who violate traffic regulations, contributing to road accidents. If this initiative is implemented effectively, it will restore order, discipline and accountability on our roads,” said Secretary General of the Greater Harare Association of Commuter Omnibus Operators, Mr Ngoni Katsvairo.
Waterfalls Commuter Operators Association Chairperson, Mr Verengai Fete, said the move could significantly reduce road carnage.
“As transport operators, we acknowledge that some drivers flout road regulations. The deployment of cameras will help reduce such behaviour. We welcome this development and appreciate government’s continued engagement with operators,” said Mr Fete.
During the programme’s pilot phase last year, more than a thousand drivers in Harare and Bulawayo were flagged for violating traffic light regulations, an indication authorities say underscores the need for stricter enforcement mechanisms.
