ZIMBABWE is set to revolutionize road safety with the imminent rollout of surveillance cameras and electronic ticketing in major cities. The Electronic Traffic Management System (ETMS) is moving into implementation, with infrastructure deployment and camera installation already underway.
Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Honourable Kazembe Kazembe, announced that Phase One of the project is expected to be rolled out within the current quarter, with visible changes anticipated in urban centres by May or June. “This is work in progress and we are moving towards Phase One deployment within this quarter,” he said. “By May or June, citizens should begin to see traffic cameras in cities and the first wave of electronic ticketing becoming operational.”
The system will utilize advanced surveillance cameras and automated ticketing to detect and penalise traffic violations in real time, including speeding, running red lights, and other offences. TelOne is developing the management platform, and local software teams are working on fine-tuning the system.
Public transport associations are welcoming the initiative, saying it will bring much-needed discipline and accountability to the roads. “Poor compliance by both public transport and private motorists has worsened road safety,” said Ngoni Katsvairo, Secretary General of the Greater Harare Association of Commuter Omnibus Operators. “If implemented effectively, this system will reduce road accidents and save lives.”
The need for stricter enforcement was highlighted during a pilot phase last year, which flagged over 1,000 drivers in Harare and Bulawayo for traffic light violations. Authorities believe the ETMS will significantly strengthen enforcement and improve road safety nationwide, reducing the alarming number of road accidents and fatalities.
The rollout of ETMS is part of the government’s broader efforts to modernize Zimbabwe’s traffic management systems and improve road infrastructure. As the country prepares for the implementation of the new system, motorists are advised to take heed of the rules of the road and avoid penalties.
