Zimbabwe traffic fines to be backdated

Government has warned motorists that traffic cameras installed across Harare are fully operational and that fines for recorded offences will be enforced retrospectively once outstanding banking and administrative arrangements are finalised.

The warning comes as some kombi and mushikashika operators continue to disregard traffic regulations at major intersections equipped with the Electronic Traffic Management System, apparently believing that no action is being taken against offenders.

Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe told the Senate on Thursday that the cameras had been recording traffic violations since the system became operational earlier this year.

He said motorists should not assume that offences were being overlooked simply because fines had not yet been issued.

"I want to inform the residents of Zimbabwe that the cameras are already effective and they are capturing crimes that are being committed. As we say, 'a crime never dies'," Kazembe said.

"Tinoda kuzivisa vagari vemuZimbabwe kuti mhosva hairove. Macamera aya ari kutobata mhosva."

The minister said fines were not yet being issued because police, Treasury and TelOne were still finalising arrangements governing the collection and allocation of revenue generated through the system.

"For now we are not yet issuing fines because we are waiting for consultations between the police, Treasury and TelOne on the allocation of funds and the payment mechanism. We agreed that there shall be revenue sharing once TelOne completes the project," he said.

Kazembe said police had already compiled a register of motorists who had committed offences, supported by video evidence.

"For that process to be effected, consensus must be reached regarding the financial institution into which the fines will be deposited, a matter currently under consideration. The surveillance cameras are, however, already operational and recording offences," he said.

The system is capturing violations including motorists proceeding through red traffic lights and using mobile phones while driving.

"We possess a register of all persons committing violations, together with video evidence of infractions such as proceeding through a red traffic signal and the use of cellular devices while driving," Kazembe said.

"All such evidence is being collated, as an offence does not lapse with time."

He said once the outstanding administrative processes had been completed, authorities would retrospectively enforce the recorded offences.

"Upon finalisation of all administrative processes, we shall proceed to retrospectively enforce all recorded offences, as the evidence is available. This constitutes the first phase of implementation," Kazembe said.

The system is eventually expected to be rolled out beyond Harare to Bulawayo, Mutare and other major urban centres.

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

"As of last week, we had recorded a total of about 1,1 million vehicles that had violated traffic laws, and these were recorded on the various traffic cameras installed across the city," Faranisi said.

However, he said authorities were conducting a verification exercise before enforcement begins to ensure that motorists were not wrongly penalised.

"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. Those are some of the verifications that we are working on," he said.

The verification process is intended to eliminate erroneous records and ensure that only genuine traffic violations result in penalties.

The high-tech cameras are capable of detecting a range of offences, including speeding, failure to obey traffic signs and traffic lights, use of mobile phones while driving and failure to wear seatbelts.

Government plans to install more than 300 cameras in Harare before expanding the electronic enforcement system to other cities.

Despite the presence of the cameras, some public transport operators continue to flout traffic regulations at monitored intersections, including Jason Moyo Avenue and Fourth Street, as well as Julius Nyerere Way and Robert Mugabe Road.

Authorities are now warning motorists that the absence of immediate fines does not mean offences have gone unrecorded, with the accumulated evidence expected to form the basis of enforcement once the system's financial and administrative framework is finalised.