Mnangagwa approves new breathalyser to tackle drink-driving

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has officially approved two breathalyser devices for use by traffic police in enforcing drink-driving laws, a government notice published on Friday confirmed.

The directive, issued under Statutory Instrument 7 of 2026, authorises officers to use only the ST FIT-333Gi, manufactured by Hong Kong-based AAT Limited, and the AT9000, produced by China's Hanwei Electronics Group Corporation.

The notice was issued in terms of Section 76(9) of the Road Traffic Act and repeals the earlier Road Traffic Act (Use of Breathalysers) Regulations, 2025, published as Statutory Instrument 193 of 2025. This move formally standardises the devices legally recognised for roadside testing and subsequent court proceedings.

Previously, regulations did not specify approved equipment, creating inconsistencies in enforcement. Authorities say the step is part of broader efforts to curb road traffic accidents, with alcohol consumption cited by police as a contributing factor in numerous fatal crashes.