15 000 drivers snared in camera crackdown

Zimbabwe's newly deployed Artificial Intelligence-driven Electronic Traffic Management System (ETMS) is identifying at least 15,000 traffic offenders every week, as authorities intensify efforts to restore order on the country's roads through technology-driven enforcement.

The system, being implemented by the Zimbabwe Republic Police in partnership with municipal police authorities, is designed to curb reckless driving, improve compliance with traffic regulations and modernise road law enforcement through real-time surveillance and automated ticketing.

According to Harare City Council chief traffic officer Martin Chimombe, the pilot project is already detecting approximately 3,600 traffic violations every day.

"The installation of automated traffic management infrastructure is moving with tremendous speed. The pilot project is already identifying at least 3,600 vehicles daily for violating council by-laws, including obstruction, parking outside designated bays and other offences," said Chimombe.

He added that once the full rollout is completed, authorities expect the system to identify more than 10,000 offending vehicles every week.

The ETMS relies on smart poles equipped with high-resolution cameras, radar technology and laser tracking systems that monitor traffic movements at key intersections. The technology automatically detects speeding, red-light violations, illegal parking and motorists driving against the flow of traffic.

Authorities say the system can accurately recognise both old and new Zimbabwean vehicle registration formats. The cameras are linked to a central database connected to the Central Vehicle Registry and the Zimbabwe National Road Administration, allowing authorities to identify vehicle owners instantly.

Instead of traditional paper tickets, motorists receive traffic violation notices electronically via mobile phone or email. Fines can then be settled through mobile banking platforms or at designated ZRP National Traffic offices.

Chimombe said the project has been fully funded by [TelOne](https://www.telone.co.zw?utm_source=chatgpt.com) and forms part of broader efforts to modernise urban traffic management.

"We want to thank TelOne for fully funding the project. The pilot phase has been a success," he said.

The pilot programme is currently operational at several strategic intersections in Harare, including the busy junction of Jason Moyo Avenue and Simon Muzenda Street.

Government has welcomed the initiative, describing it as a key component of Zimbabwe's digital transformation agenda.

In a letter addressed to acting town clerk Warren Chiwawa, the Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services commended Harare City Council for successfully implementing the project.

The ministry said the initiative aligns with the national Smart 2030 Master Plan, which seeks to leverage technology to improve service delivery and support Zimbabwe's goal of attaining upper-middle-income status by 2030.

"The Smart 2030 Master Plan serves as a roadmap for the digital economy and guides the national vision of attaining upper-middle-income status by 2030," the ministry said.

Authorities believe the smart traffic management system will help reduce reckless driving, improve road safety and enhance urban mobility.

Chiwawa recently revealed that municipal police impounded a record 58,830 vehicles in Harare last year, generating more than US$1 million in traffic fines amid growing concerns over traffic lawlessness in the capital.

He said more than 14,000 vehicles were impounded during the first quarter of this year alone, highlighting the scale of traffic violations confronting authorities.

With the successful implementation of the pilot phase, Government and local authorities now plan to expand the technology to other cities and towns across Zimbabwe as part of a nationwide drive to modernise traffic enforcement and improve compliance with road regulations.

Officials say the adoption of smart enforcement technologies will increasingly become central to future traffic management efforts as authorities seek to reduce congestion, improve road safety and eliminate lawlessness on the country's roads.