Digital policing picks 290 traffic violations in H...

Digital policing picks 290 traffic violations in Harare CBD

ZimNow Reporter

The Zimbabwe Republic Police could finally be on the way to curbing lawlessness on Harare roads after deploying an Electronic Traffic Management System that has so far picked up almost 300 vehicles for traffic violations.

A press release issued by the ZRP listed 290 vehicles accused of violating traffic light rules. Owners of the cited vehicles—published in a two-part registry—are urged to report to authorities within seven days to assist investigations.

Harare’s roads have become a traffic jungle with kombi and mushikashika (unregistered commuter operators) crews as well as some private drivers normalizing illegal and dangerous behavior like driving against traffic, using wrong lanes, and going through red lights.

Some of the offenders on the shared list include personalized plates and vehicles registered to diplomatic missions as well as foreign-registered plates.

Several plates, including ADS 5480, AGW 1460, ACQ 6938, and AFW 4425, appear multiple times, which may indicate that the drivers are repeat offenders.

Zimbabwean authorities are considering a cumulative penalty system where drivers stand to lose their licenses for consistent bad behavior. The current system only suspends licenses or bans drivers for life over specific offenses.

The ZRP emphasized cooperation from motorists to uphold road safety, warning that unresolved cases could lead to legal action.

Zimbabweans welcome this crackdown, as police officers, pedestrians, and passengers have lost their lives in Harare CBD due to crashes caused by driver criminal negligence.

The ETMS could also help in crime prevention beyond traffic offenses. For example, it could be used to track the movements of armed robbers and capture smash and grab incidents.