Online Reporter
Mthabisi Tshuma in Harare
GOVERNMENT has launched a new National Speed Monitoring System aimed at enhancing road safety and curbing fatalities amid calls for players in the transport sector and individual motorists to comply with applicable regulations.
The new system is a collaboration between the Ministries of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Transport and Infrastructural Development and Information Communication Technology (ICT), Postal and Courier Services.
Government, through the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, introduced Statutory Instrument 118 of 2023, which requires that public service vehicles be fitted with speed limiting and speed monitoring devices.
Speaking at the official launch held in Harare on Wednesday, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Felix Mhona, said the monitoring tool should not be viewed merely as an enforcement mechanism.
“It is a partnership for safer and more efficient public transportation. Government recognises that successful implementation will require the cooperation of all stakeholders,” he said.
“Transport operators, drivers, regulatory authorities, technology providers and members of the public all have a role to play. Our visionary leader, His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde Mnangagwa, has consistently reminded us that road safety is a shared responsibility and that we must at all times safeguard human life.
“In keeping with that shared responsibility, I encourage our transport operators to embrace this system and to ensure that their vehicles and operations comply with the applicable requirements.
“Compliance should be understood not merely as a legal obligation, but as part of our collective responsibility to protect passengers and other road users. To our drivers, I urge you to remember that every journey carries human lives,” said Minister Mhona.
He said the technology launched yesterday must complement responsible driving, respect for passengers and adherence to road safety requirements.
“To the team responsible for administering this system, I call for professionalism, transparency and the responsible use of the information it generates,” said Minister Mhona.
He said to the transport operators, the system presents an opportunity to strengthen operational discipline and compliance with the law while for drivers, it reinforces the importance of responsible conduct on the country’s roads.
Minister Mhona said to passengers, the system represents an additional layer of protection and accountability.
“Technology allows us to improve the way we manage public transport but technology alone cannot solve every challenge. Its success will depend on the integrity of the information collected, the responsiveness of institutions, compliance by operators and the willingness of all stakeholders to work together,” he said.
Minister Mhona said stakeholders must therefore use the platform to not only monitor compliance but also to identify trends, improve transport planning, respond to emerging risks and continuously improve the quality of public transport.
He emphasised the need to regard the system as part of a broader commitment to building a transport system that is safer, more accountable, more efficient and responsive to the needs of the travelling public.
Minister Mhona said in the past three years, Government has put in place various legislative and administrative measures to reduce road traffic accidents. — Follow on X :@mthabisi_mthire
