Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
THE Government has launched the National Speed Monitoring System (NSMS), which is expected to enhance the monitoring and enforcement of speed limits using modern technology.
The system also supports law enforcement agencies in promoting responsible road use and protecting the lives of motorists, passengers, pedestrians and other road users.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Advocate Felix Mhona launched the system in Harare today.
He was accompanied by his deputy, Joshua Sacco, the Ministry’s permanent secretary, Engineer Joy Makumbe, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Engineer Tafadzwa Muguti, national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi, legislators and various stakeholders.
The National Speed Monitoring System, which is being implemented by the Vehicle Inspectorate Department, is also meant to curb road carnage in the country.
According to the Government, they will soon be enforcing Statutory Instrument 118 of 2023 of the Road Traffic Act (Speed Limiting and Monitoring Devices) Regulations, 2023, published on Friday that makes it a requirement for public service vehicles to have speed monitoring devices will be gazetted soon.
This development also comes after the Government had instructed all public service vehicles to be fitted with speed limiting devices that go up to a maximum of 100km per hour in 2023, in a bid to control speed and reduce carnage on the country’s highways.
According to the SI, drivers of such vehicles are also compelled to keep all data and records relating to speed monitoring for a period of not less than six months for inspection by an inspecting officer.
“No person shall operate or drive on any road a passenger public service vehicle registered in Zimbabwe or a heavy vehicle with a net mass of four thousand six hundred kilogrammes (4 600kg) or more registered in Zimbabwe unless both of the following devices are fitted to the vehicle: (a) a speed monitoring device; and (b) a speed limiting device limiting such category of vehicles to a speed not exceeding 100km/hr,” read the SI.
The SI further states that the devices referred to must be certified by the vehicle inspecting officer and approved by the Standards Association of Zimbabwe. The vehicles referred to were mostly buses, with lorries and haulage trucks also under the radar.
“No inspecting officer shall issue a certificate of fitness for any passenger public service vehicle registered in Zimbabwe or a heavy vehicle with a net mass of four thousand six hundred kilogrammes (4 600kg) or more registered in Zimbabwe unless both devices referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of section 3(1) of these regulations are fitted to the vehicle for which the certificate of fitness should be issued,” it read.
“The Commissioner shall not issue an operator’s licence, route authority, or any other form of licence or permit to any operator, owner or driver of public service vehicle registered in Zimbabwe or a heavy vehicle with a net mass of four thousand six hundred kilogrammes (4 600kg) or more registered in Zimbabwe unless both devices referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection(l)of section 3 of these regulations are fitted to the vehicle with effect from the date of 1 August 2023Furthermore, public service vehicles registered in Zimbabwe or heavy vehicles with a net mass of 4 600kg or more registered in Zimbabwe which had not been operating without both devices fitted to them before 1 August 2023, shall comply by 1 January 2024.
“The owner, operator or driver of a motor vehicle referred to in section 3(1) shall ensure that the speed monitoring and speed limiting devices are properly fitted and are operating efficiently at all times whenever the motor vehicle is operating or being driven on the road.
“Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with Sections 3 and 4 commits an offence and shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 5, or to a period of imprisonment not exceeding six months or both to such fine and imprisonment.”
