Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba in GENEVA, Switzerland
Zimbabwe is committed to adopting international good practices on all matters under the purview of the Inland Transport Committee, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona has said.
Speaking at the 88th session of the United Nations (UN) Inland Transport Committee (ITC) that is being held at the United Nations Palais des Nations, Minister Mhona said Zimbabwe is ready to work with all progressive forces to ensure inland transport is safer, greener, and more resilient.
The minister made these remarks during his address as part of a ministerial panel focusing on Zimbabwe’s innovation, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, and automation in inland transport.
Running under the theme “Driving Innovation for the Future of Inland Transport”, the event commenced on Tuesday and will run until Friday.
Minister Mhona is leading the Zimbabwean delegation, which also includes Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Ms Ever Mlilo; the ministry’s legal advisor, Advocate Kingston Magaya; Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) board chairperson, Mr Kura Sibanda; TSCZ managing director, Mr Munesu Munodawafa; and other senior Government officials.
Zimbabwe’s participation signals its intention to strengthen transport policies, align with global standards, and deepen regional and international cooperation.
In his address, Minister Mhona acknowledged the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in advancing inland transport.
“Zimbabwe is committed to cooperation under the United Nations system and to the adoption of international good practices and standards on all matters under the purview of the ITC. Multilateral cooperation lies at the heart of the foreign policy of the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde Dr ED Mnangagwa’s administration.
“Zimbabwe joins the United Nations family in shaping the attendant discourse, underpinned by the critical innovations and automation in the inland transport sector. The utility of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in advancing inland transport in Zimbabwe anchors innovation and automation in the sector.
“While Zimbabwe still has more to accomplish, considerable milestones have been made in the application of AI, solar-enabled traffic management systems, automated, cashless ‘tap and go’ ticketing, as well as GPS-based vehicle tracking, to improve road transport safety and efficiency,” he said.
Minister Mhona noted that key innovations include intelligent cameras for automatic penalty issuance, real-time data analytics for fleet management, and digital ride-hailing platforms aimed at reducing congestion and modernising logistics.
He said Zimbabwe has introduced an Integrated Transport Management Information System, which has seen the country moving away from paper-based systems.
The system integrates vehicle registration, licensing, and inspection data, thereby creating a more streamlined and transparent process.
Peter Tanyanyiwa