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Roberta Katunga, Senior Business Reporter
A Zvishavane-based electronic engineer is building traffic light controllers using local products amid revelations that the locally produced components save municipalities half the cost of imported ones.
In an interview Thinkernel Pvt Ltd director Mr Zariro Manzungu told Sunday News Business that he was working on a project to locally manufacture all components that are required for a traffic light to function as well as replace all the imported hardware.
He said by the end of the year, his company would have researched on the solutions of doing away with imports for all traffic lights.
“At the moment we have repaired two traffic lights in Zvishavane using locally acquired parts and we are also in the process of building a solar-controlled traffic light from scratch. Our systems use solar power because it is basically free and you only incur initial costs, it has low maintenance costs and you do not face problems of dysfunctional traffic lights when there is an electricity fault or power cut,” said Mr Manzungu.
Outlining the process of building a traffic light, Mr Manzungu said the first stage was identifying a problem with a non-working traffic light or a new one as well as getting specifications followed by the designing process that involves developing the software and subsequently the hardware that suits the software.
He said after simulation of software, it is burnt into the micro-controller and an integrated test is done.
“This process of developing both the software and hardware is done in our workshop before we then connect cables to the lights into the whole system and the process takes up to four weeks,” said Mr Manzungu.
According to local authorities, initially they would hire companies that buy controllers outside the country to repair or build traffic lights and then do installations but having locally produced controllers is apparently saving them and in the process promoting the Buy Zimbabwe campaign.
Mr Manzungu said his company that started operating in April this year also designs control systems for the mining and telecoms sectors.
On his journey so far, he said it has been challenging as approaching town councils with proposals as a new company is difficult as most hire based on experience and they found it difficult to take them seriously.
He said his breakthrough was when he did the YaFM transmitter and studio installations which he used as recommendations for prospective jobs.
“As a small company, we hire people on a contract basis to assist when we have a project.
“However, there are certain machines that we need to purchase when we access funding that will help grow the business like 3D printers and moulding machines as well as other tools of the trade,” he said.
Mr Manzungu said with a fully equipped factory or workshop, locals have the means and expertise to compete with imports.
Online Reporter