Motorists flouting road rules in Harare’s central business district have been warned that traffic cameras are fully operational and fines will be backdated.
Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe issued the warning as kombis and mushikashikas continue to disregard traffic regulations at major intersections fitted with cameras, apparently under the impression that no action is being taken.
Responding to questions in the Senate last Thursday, Kazembe said the new system has been recording offences since it went live early this year.
He said fines for all captured offences will be backdated once Treasury finalises banking arrangements.
“I want to inform the residents of Zimbabwe that the cameras are already effective and they are capturing crimes that are being committed. As we say, ‘a crime never dies’,” said Kazembe.
“For now, we are not yet issuing fines because we are waiting for consultations between the police, Treasury and TelOne on the allocation of funds and the payment mechanism.
“We agreed that there shall be revenue sharing once TelOne completes the project.
“For that process to be effected, consensus must be reached regarding the financial institution into which the fines will be deposited, a matter currently under consideration.
“The surveillance cameras are, however, already operational and recording offences.”
Kazembe said police had compiled a comprehensive register of offenders who will, in due course, be summoned.
He said the infractions being captured by the cameras include proceeding through a red traffic signal and using a mobile phone while driving.
“Upon finalisation of all administrative processes, we shall proceed to retrospectively enforce all recorded offences, as the evidence is available. This constitutes the first phase of implementation,” said Kazembe.
“The programme will subsequently be extended to Bulawayo, Mutare and other major urban centres.”
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Ambassador Raphael Faranisi, also confirmed that more than 1.1 million road traffic violations had been flagged as of the beginning of this month.
He added that the offences were still being validated, as at the time some violations might have been committed the intersections were being controlled by a police officer and, in some instances, the road markings were not clear enough.
More: The Herald
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