Govt rolls out electronic system to reduce roadblocks

The government is rolling out an electronic traffic management system (ETMS) that will see a reduction in the number of police check points on the country's roads, curb corruption and ensure that motorists comply with traffic regulations.

Home Affairs Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo told a media briefing in Harare that they are aware of complaints over the ever increasing number of road blocks and the sometimes questionable behaviour of officers manning the police check points which have been criticised as excessive.

Dr Chombo said his ministry is working on a number of initiatives among them the introduction of an ETMS that is anticipated to bring transparency and accountability in enforcing traffic laws.

The initiative is being implemented in partnership with a private entity Univern Enterprises under a public private partnership model.

The ETMS has already been linked to the vehicle theft squad and to various entities within the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development says Dr Chombo.

Electronic traffic management system is an integrated computerised traffic system that can also record accidents, generate dockets and compile data electronically.