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Innocent Ruwende Senior Reporter
Harare City Council traffic cops will no longer chase after motorists or throw spikes at them following the computerisation of the city’s traffic management system.
In a statement recently, the city spokesperson Mr Leslie Gwindi said this followed public outcry over the dangers posed by chasing offending motorists in the Central Business District.
“The motorists are either arrested during vetting at roadblocks or when their vehicles are clamped and towed to the Central Stores.
“We hope this new method resonates with what the people have always been clamouring for.
“We have taken time to listen to the people and we think we are doing what they want,” he said.
Mr Gwindi said the new system was expected to improve the ticketing, data capture and management of traffic systems. He said the city has implemented the traffic management module onto its BIQ system.
The computerisation will go a long way in capturing all the tickets issued for the various road traffic offences and the management of information.
Mr Gwindi said since last week, council, police, Zinara and Zimra have been vetting impounded vehicles at the City Central Stores.
“The team is checking against unpaid traffic offences, licence discs, tax certificates and other road traffic offences.
“Out of the nearly 7 000 tickets so far captured into the BIQ system — a total of US$293 000 was realised last week only.
“We expect to capture another 10 000 tickets onto the BIQ valued at over US$500 000,” he said.
He said during vetting, they discovered that kombi operators and motorists have accumulated over 15 unpaid tickets on average.
“They have to clear all the tickets to have their vehicles released,” he said.
The offences range from touting, obstruction, picking and dropping passengers at illegal points.
Online Reporter