Harare traffic cameras flag 1.1m violations

HARARE'S newly installed traffic cameras have flagged more than 1.1 million suspected traffic violations since going live earlier this year, as Government steps up the use of technology to improve road safety and enforce traffic laws.

The revelations come as the Government, through the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), intensifies a road safety campaign aimed at reducing traffic accidents during the holiday period.

Harare currently has 16 traffic surveillance camera sites positioned at key intersections along major roads.

The cameras are capable of detecting offences including speeding, failure to obey traffic signs, using mobile phones while driving and travelling without fastened seatbelts.

Government plans to install more than 300 high-tech cameras across Harare before expanding the programme to other cities.

The cameras form part of Phase One of the national Smart Traffic Management and Surveillance Programme being implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, with TelOne providing technical support.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Ambassador Raphael Faranisi said more than 1.1 million suspected traffic violations had been recorded as of the beginning of August.

However, no penalties have yet been issued as authorities are conducting verification checks on each offence.

Faranisi said the verification process was necessary to ensure motorists were not penalised for circumstances beyond their control.

"As of last week, we had recorded about 1.1 million vehicles that had violated traffic laws, and these were recorded on the various traffic cameras installed across the city," he said.

"However, we are still validating these offences. Probably at the time the violation was committed, the intersection was being controlled by a police officer.

"Then, in some instances, maybe the markings on the road were not clear enough, so those are some of the verifications that we are working on."

Authorities are also examining whether traffic lights were temporarily overridden by police officers directing traffic and whether faded or unclear road markings may have contributed to some apparent violations.

Officials said the verification process would help eliminate erroneous records before enforcement action is taken.

The Electronic Traffic Management System is part of Government's broader efforts to modernise traffic enforcement, improve compliance and reduce road accidents through digital technology.

Unlike conventional traffic policing, the system allows roads to be monitored continuously, enabling authorities to detect suspected offences around the clock.

The system is also expected to improve traffic management by providing real-time information on congestion, road incidents and major traffic bottlenecks.

Government intends to expand the camera network as part of its broader digital transformation programme and efforts to develop safer and smarter urban centres.

The rollout comes as authorities intensify road safety awareness ahead of the Heroes and Defence Forces holidays, a period historically associated with increased traffic volumes and accidents.

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona said approximately 94% of road crashes in Zimbabwe were directly linked to inappropriate human decisions.

Mhona made the remarks while officially launching the 2026 Heroes and Defence Forces Holidays Road Safety Enforcement and Educational Awareness Campaign in Mazowe, Mashonaland Central province.

The campaign is being conducted under the theme: "Be patient or you could end up a patient in hospital."

"Our theme this time around was informed by the disturbing fact that up to 94 percent of road crashes on our roads in Zimbabwe are a direct result of inappropriate human decisions," Mhona said.

He urged motorists to exercise greater caution as thousands of Zimbabweans travel across the country to visit family and friends, attend church services and community events and commemorate national heroes.

Officials said road crashes remain a major public safety concern, with current trends indicating that a crash occurs approximately every 15 minutes, while an average of five people lose their lives on the roads each day and about 38 are injured.

Mhona said the economic cost of road accidents was also significant.

"Conscious of the fact that the cost of road crashes in Zimbabwe averages around US$400 million per year, the Government, therefore, remains committed to implementing policies and programmes that promote safer roads, save lives and support sustainable national development," he said.

He said the financial impact included medical expenses for accident victims, lost productivity, supply-chain disruptions and damage to property.

Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe urged motorists not to view traffic enforcement as punitive.

He said police officers would be deployed across the country during the holidays to protect travellers and enforce road safety regulations.

"So, many (police) officers will spend these holidays away from their families so that millions of Zimbabweans can travel safely," Kazembe said.

"They will be deployed nationwide to fulfil one of Government's most important constitutional obligations: the protection of human life."

He said enforcement would include monitoring speed limits, checking vehicle roadworthiness, regulating traffic and ensuring compliance with traffic regulations.

"Hence, my appeal is for us all not to view traffic enforcement as punishment," he said.

TSCZ board chairperson Kura Sibanda said the organisation remained committed to promoting road safety through public education and awareness campaigns.

He urged motorists to observe basic safety measures, including wearing seatbelts, respecting speed limits, maintaining safe following distances, obeying traffic signs and showing courtesy to other road users.

As authorities prepare to process the more than one million camera-recorded incidents, the verification process will be closely watched by motorists, particularly as Government moves towards wider use of automated traffic enforcement across Zimbabwe.