Online Reporter
Africa Moyo-Deputy National Editor
MOTORISTS in Harare are being caught breaking traffic laws in alarming numbers with newly-installed smart surveillance cameras already exposing dangerous driving habits at some of the city’s busiest intersections.
Authorities have urged drivers to revisit the Highway Code before the technology-driven enforcement system is expanded across the capital.
Sixteen traffic surveillance camera sites are now live under Phase One of the national smart traffic management and surveillance programme.
It is being implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, with TelOne as the technical partner.
The cameras have been installed at key intersections and are already recording traffic violations by motorists.
The development comes at a time when Zimbabwe continues to experience a surge in road traffic accidents, many of them blamed on reckless driving, failure to obey traffic rules and dangerous behaviour on the country’s roads.
Just weeks ago, nearly 50 people died in a series of road accidents across the country.
Speaking at TelOne’s 12th annual general meeting in Harare, the company’s chief executive officer, Engineer Lawrence Nkala, said the camera network was already exposing troubling driving patterns.
“In terms of progress under Phase One, we have 20 sites (for cameras) in Harare . . . and we do have cameras that have been mounted on poles at various intersections,” he said.
Eng Nkala warned drivers that the cameras were exposing behaviour that could have serious consequences if left unchecked.
“I must say that the owner of the project is (the Ministry of) Home Affairs and we are the technical partner.
“We are seeing a pattern; the kind of violations that we are seeing are very worrisome and you are warned that you must revisit your Highway Code in respect of how you approach intersections,” he said.
Eng Nkala also explained that the steel poles, which can be called street furniture, are all locally manufactured.
“The steel poles are manufactured in Msasa (Harare) by our people. We buy the steel from local suppliers and manufacture,” he said.
Eng Nkala said installation work had largely been completed.
“We have got 20 sites and in terms of implementation, the 20 sites are done and cameras have been deployed, and we currently have 16 sites that are live.
“As you travel along Samora Machel into town, obviously you encounter cameras and we are already getting violations,” he said.
Although authorities have not disclosed the exact nature or number of offences recorded so far, the fact that violations are already being picked up has raised concerns about how some motorists are behaving when approaching intersections.
Traffic management experts have long identified offences such as skipping red lights, making illegal turns, failing to give way and ignoring road signs as some of the major contributors to accidents in urban areas.
With more surveillance sites expected to become operational in the coming months, motorists are likely to face increased scrutiny as authorities move to curb dangerous driving and improve safety on Zimbabwe’s roads.
