In a bid to tame the traffic menace in Harare, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) is deploying an army of drones to enforce traffic regulations. The drones will support the Electronic Traffic Management System (ETMS) in identifying traffic offenders, particularly kombi drivers and illegal taxis (mushikashika) that have been terrorizing the city.
The ZRP has identified various vehicle offenses, including picking up and dropping off passengers at unauthorized spots, creating illegal lanes, driving against traffic flow, ignoring stop signs, and operating without public service permits. With drones navigating 10-20kms from Harare Central Police Station, traffic offenders will be pinpointed and brought to book.
The ZRP’s surveillance cameras in Harare have already identified 290 motorists who have been fined for various traffic violations. A similar CCTV monitoring facility in Bulawayo’s Central Business District is set to publicize traffic offenders caught on camera, serving as a warning to would-be transgressors.
The deployment of drones marks a new era in traffic enforcement in Zimbabwe. With technology on their side, the ZRP is poised to restore order on the roads and make Harare a safer place for commuters.
