Stiff penalties for defiant motorists caught on camera

Thousands of motorists caught on camera running red traffic lights will face stringent penalties, including the inability to renew vehicle licences or pass through tollgates, as police roll out a robust Electronic Traffic Management System (ETMS) to enhance road safety and accountability.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), working in partnership with the Government and Dubai-based technology firm Vitronic Machine Vision Middle East, has launched an aggressive operation targeting over 20,000 motorists in Harare and Bulawayo who were recorded violating traffic signals.

In an interview unpacking the new initiative, ZRP national spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi made it clear that enforcement under the ETMS is already underway — and there will be no retreat.

"The system will be linked to other Government departments like ZINARA, ZIMRA, and local authorities. What this means is that those who continue to ignore our call for them to present themselves at their nearest police station will not be able to renew their vehicle licences or cross through tollgates anywhere in the country," said Comm Nyathi.

He added that vehicle registration status will now be automatically checked through the ETMS, and all offenders will be flagged.

Comm Nyathi warned motorists against ignoring summonses once their vehicles have been identified and their licence plates published by the police.

"Technology knows and respects no one. It doesn't matter whether one is driving a vehicle with white number plates or not. We want clean roads, not what is prevailing now, and as police, we won't get tired of making sure we achieve that," he said.

Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operators are also under scrutiny, with Comm Nyathi stressing that no operating licence will be issued to anyone with outstanding violations until the amounts are settled.

Motorists or institutions with vehicles on the list are being advised to report to the nearest police station immediately or contact the National Complaints Desk at (0242) 703631 or via WhatsApp on 0712 800 197.

The ETMS project is part of a US$80 million Public-Private Partnership aimed at leveraging technology to address Zimbabwe's rising road safety concerns. While the system is currently capturing mostly vehicle registration numbers, authorities plan to expand its capability in the coming months.

In Bulawayo, the system remains partially active and this week captured 284 motorists who failed to stop at red lights. Meanwhile, Harare's system has been upgraded and now automatically records the offender's national identity number along with vehicle owner information, enabling swift legal action.

Comm Nyathi also warned that those who fail to respond will be hauled before the courts, as ignoring such offences is no longer an option.

With traffic accidents and fatalities increasing across the country, authorities say the crackdown is part of a larger national push towards a safer and more orderly road network.

"Road safety is a shared responsibility. Every motorist must play their part as the country surges towards building a traffic-compliant and accident-free environment," said Comm Nyathi.

Police have already begun publishing names of offending motorists in batches, and more lists are expected to be released as data continues to come in.

The ETMS marks a new era in Zimbabwe's approach to road safety — one where violations are swiftly captured, documented, and penalized, regardless of the offender's social status or connections.