Chaos begets chaos. You need only observe the way Zimbos drive, especially Hararians. You would be forgiven for thinking the red light means ‘stop’. No, to most Zimbos it’s just there to add ambience to road intersections.
One of the major reasons they drive this way is that they know they can get away with it.
You can run through seven red lights in a row and unless a motivated policeman happens to observe you drive so and chases after you, you will face no consequences for this behaviour.
Unfortunately, the consequences could be a bribe to the policeman. Yes, in most cases, a ten dollar bill (or more if you were particularly egregious) can wipe out any infraction. So, even when you see a policeman chase after a reckless driver, you know it’s only to line the policeman’s pockets.
Indeed, Zimbos hate it when the police chase after reckless drivers because they know it’s about bribe collection. The offending driver will be back on the road once he pays his tithe.
That’s the problem. The govt believes the solution is a …
Smart traffic management system
The govt wants to implement an $80 million smart traffic management system to reduce road accidents, congestion, and corruption.
The system was developed by Dubai-based Vitronic Machine Vision Middle East and will initially be deployed in Harare and Bulawayo. Victronic has apparently installed similar systems in a number of countries, including France, Germany, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Rwanda.
The system includes intelligent cameras linked to databases of stolen vehicles and wanted criminals.
The project aims to enhance law enforcement, improve revenue streams, and promote road safety by minimising human intervention in traffic management. If we can’t trust humans, we might as well surrender to our robot overlords.
The investment will be recouped through fines for traffic violations. Victronic will have a revenue sharing arrangement with the govt so don’t worry, your favourite politicians will not have to go years without that revenue.
All good but…
As I’m sure most of you have personally experienced, slapping a smart system on a problem does not magically solve it. There is a good chance this will be $80 million down the drain. Let’s look at some of the prerequisites for a successful traffic management system:
Advanced technology:
Integration of intelligent cameras, sensors, and real-time data processing is essential. We don’t have to worry too much about this part. Victronic will supply.
Robust Infrastructure:
We will need reliable power supply, internet connectivity, and road infrastructure. This is where the worry comes in.
Reliable internet connectivity should not be that big of a problem. There are various fixed and wireless internet service providers to ensure this won’t be a problem.
Our road infrastructure is not up to snuff. However, the govt is on a road rehabilitation spree and so let’s assume road infrastructure will be decent in the near future.
Reliable power supply seems like the hardest one to achieve. We have seen improvement in power supply ever since the Hwange expansion project. However, we are still far from claiming ‘reliable power supply.’
Given the potential challenges with grid electricity, the traffic management system could use solar power like many Zimbabwean households.
Comprehensive Database:
We will need accurate and updated information on vehicles, drivers, and traffic patterns. I don’t know about you but I think we will struggle with this one.
A year ago, this was the headline “Driver’s Licences Backlog Rises To 600 000.” Some decentralisation was undertaken to combat that but who among us is willing to bet even $5 that the Central Vehicle Registry and other govt agencies have resolved their efficiency problems in the last 12 months?
The traffic management system will be less useful when it captures images of offending vehicles that do not have licence plates and are not in any system yet.
Law Enforcement Integration:
Coordination with police and emergency services will be essential. I’m not thrilled about it either but the police will remain integral to the success of the traffic management system.
Meaning the human intervention we were trying to run away from cannot be fully dodged. However, if implemented well, we still could limit the amount of corruption they can engage in.
Public Awareness and Compliance:
Like all systems, there will be no success if there is no public buy-in. Education campaigns to ensure public cooperation will need to be undertaken.
I don’t know how Zimbos will respond to this. I think they will buy into this but ya’ll are a weird bunch, I wouldn’t bet on it.
Sustainable Funding:
For the traffic management system to succeed, it will need continuous investment and maintenance. I’m not too confident the system will get continuous investment and maintenance.
As Zimbos, we have a bad track record when it comes to maintenance. We talked about the govt being on a road rehabilitation spree but we should have been maintaining these roads, not waiting until they are in tatters to then hastily rehabilitate them.
I imagine if the traffic management system is installed, some offenders will pay fines but will a portion of those fines be set aside for maintenance? History says not enough will be set aside, most will be diverted.
We hope it succeeds
Crossing the street in Harare is not that different from crossing a landmine rich plot of land. You could be following all the rules of the road and you still could be run over by a minibus that’s trying to beat traffic by driving along the pedestrians’ pavement.
So, we want the traffic management system to succeed. We want offenders to get home to tickets in their mailboxes like it is in other countries.
Do note that similar systems have had mixed results in different countries. Some have succeeded and some have not.
Light research shows how the following 3 countries failed to successfully deploy traffic management systems.
India:
- Challenges: Poor infrastructure, lack of enforcement, and high corruption levels.
- Outcome: Systems failed to significantly reduce traffic congestion and violations.
Nigeria:
- Challenges: Inconsistent power supply, lack of maintenance, and public non-compliance.
- Outcome: The system’s effectiveness was undermined, leading to minimal improvements.
Kenya:
- Challenges: Insufficient funding, technical issues, and resistance from the public.
- Outcome: The system faced operational challenges and did not meet its objectives.
Some might argue that these systems were/are successful but it remains that they underachieved. Zimbabwe has to be diligent otherwise we will be listed among these countries.
If we’re being honest, the challenges these 3 countries faced are packed in tight in Zimbabwe. The only thing we’re not sure of is public non-compliance, however, for the rest, Zimbabwe has them in spades.
If I were a betting man, I would bet on Zim’s smart traffic management system failing. It pains me to admit, but it is what it is.
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27 comments
Imagine a police officer with a Button stick trying to catch a Kombi without any Legal sticker on it other than a Quote which says “Sorry Mashefu tinenge takanonoka” haina kana 3rd plate whatsoever this will fail dramatically go an watch Highway Patrol, you will understand that we are far from this kind of system imagine a police car which can automatically check the Insurance validity and all other licenses all it needs is a police car parked by the road side
So, if we can reach this level huh tozotanga kuita zvema smart system or even Control House to monitor these cameras so that we can start by monitoring these Robots Manually and adjust when needed before surrendering to Ai
BATON ! not button !
What needs to be done is to first design or revamp the roads for an intelligent traffic system. Even the airport to Mt. Hampden will never be able to support such a system, as it will be the smaller roads which link to it which will make it a waste of money. The only thing to get those they want to travel without hiccups will be by use of police motorcades.
If we are copying Dubai, we have to also look at vehicle density on their roads, average lanes per road, and the age of the town itself.
Our gold should be able to fund the upgrade of the cities’ roads to a standard worth the implementation of a smart traffic system
Zimbos (Zombies) ye of little faith! Are you that blinded by politics that you fail even to appreciate when the government is making a step in the right directions, it’s only that their priorities are in the wrong order. My thought is rehabilitation of roads(proper) updating the civil service ICT infrastructure ( body cams for police officers, cams in patrol vehicles and in police camps), then traffic management system.. Electricity is not a problem sooner than later China is installing a floating solar system on Kariba … Think positively Zimbos (Zombies)
Once bitten, twice shy. And how are zombies made? 👨🏾⚖️👨🏾⚖️👨🏾⚖️I rest my case your honour!
Lol, but seriously, this stuff is cool and all but these technological systems aren’t worth their salt if the human enforcement and abiding factor aren’t up to the task. It’s kinda cheap for an infrastructure project so I say let’s do it but it won’t succeed to it’s full potential in a vacuum.
People are generally afraid of change.When the steam ship was invented people said it wont sail.When it said a crowd which had gathered predicted that it wont stop and it did stop.
The Wright bros were ridiculed for wanting to create an aeroplane.An editorial appeared in the Washington post,experts predicted the failure of their endeavour.
A new idea is first ridiculed,then with time it gets a accepted as common sense.
When HG Wells wrote about the internet in the 1800s it was labeled as sci-fi.
The system will work.Qoute me on this
Guys! I think Starlink just killed everyone in the ISP game (T’s & C’s apply, it may never make it here but I can dream!)
They are introducing instalments for the kit, an incredible incentive in markets like ours. Pray to whoever you believe in that this makes it here🙏🏾🛰️
The only way to flush out corruption is by introducing body cams to officers who do traffic stops. The rest follows
Our policemen need a living wage, not to mention proper attire and gear.
Looks like vintage zumbi carriages front of mahachi. I’m guessing someone who was in Dubai recently was pitched a great way to waste taxpayers money and added a few mill for retirement.
The recent deep in quality of articles,Recently the articles sound like stories dzemubhawa
Pachangodyiwa mari
Nguva yachihuri non functional cameras were installed. System never worked
Very interesting. I also bet on failure given the general mindset of our Zimbabwean driver and the endemic corruption and lack of funding inertia for successful projects .
System will fail without a doubt. Someone found a loophole to siphon taxpayers dollars, need i remind everyone of our tollgates. Ask yourself whats the real purpose of tollgates? What contribution to the development of our roads have they brought except funding a $60 000 dollar weave for some manager. By now if funds were being used for road network upgrades and development we would have already started constructing smart roads. So for me the issue has nothing to do with the infrastructure itself but the intentions behind its installation. We have diamond in Manicaland and therw is nothing infrastructure wise to show for it…the road from Mutare CBD to Masvingo will cost you tyres and suspension repairs. I have zero confidence in the success of the system. Remember also our gvt has a no. of these projects, that are doomed to fail from the tender process. How many times has Hwange gobbled state funds but we still struggle with electricity, NRZ South African deal was also a waste of money, Intratek has one solar panel installed on its wooden cabin to date and this doesnt instill confidence. Can someone supply me with one of those $3000 dollar laptops our parly tried to procure.
You are right.
First world country design devices or hi-tech solutions will not work in third or progressing countries. Solutions should be uniquely tailored using thru technology to shift towards change of mindset.
I think to adopt the South African system will work,change our road network ,remove the give way sign and use Stop sign system on all intersection ,which meant first come first go ,monitored with 24hr Cameras which will be linked to trafic data base, so that all traffic offensive will b recorded and sent a ticket to the addresswhich the vehicle is registered with a grace period to pay,failure to pay ,a fine will be added ,froma certain period for example if the payment must be paid within21 days ,after 21 days a penalty will be added from due date ,and u won’t be able to pay vehicle license before u will b clead on your offense,and Scrap the high way code then amend the new 1 ,to avoid corruption ,on that ticket they must be an account (bank Details ) your ticket number will be your reference ,after payment then u will be cleared automatically within the system, and speed Cameras on all the roads ,this will help and evry1 will be self deciplined ,then traffic police will be monitoring the movement of traffic and some offenders ,and they must be equipped with Motorbikes and traffic cars ,using stop sign on all intersection and Cameras all over they will no intersection which will be locked ,cz no1 want to be a victim evr1 will b deciplined
Fully agree with you in every way. A waste of tax payer’s funds. Excellent article.
And the next joke is???
Varume chimbokandaiwo masmartphone reviews malatest
“ya’ll are a weird bunch”. YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN.
There’s not much faith one can have , when most of the tenders are going to be handed to teletuby.
Brilliant idea but why don’t we finish existing projects first. Seriously we are now looking like busy fools.
Brilliant idea but why don’t we finish existing projects first. Seriously we are now looking like busy fools.
A few thoughts,
(i) doing a pilot study of the system first by launching in a smaller city – eg. Mutare, Gweru, Kwekwe, etc. – would make more sense as this would test product-market fit,
(ii) a system like this would also require a lot human labor with the requisite digital skills, will the ministry training it’s exisiting staff or will they go on a hiring spree,
(iii) why are they not installing this at the Cyber City & in Mount Hampden if GoZ is actually serious about moving the capital there,
(iv) will GoZ work together with the city councils of Harare & Bulawayo to implement this system,
(v) what is the point of our higher & tertiary institutions if students there can ideate similar systems yet government won’t even trial the systems.
tl;dr:- I completely agree with you. I don’t believe this will succeed either. It could work, however the track record of the leadership at the involved ministries more than heavily suggests it won’t.
The problem starts and ends with police corruption. Pure and simple.
Almost every all major roads in and out of the cities have police roadblocks. But the road is still full of unroadworthy, unlicensed vehicles. All because the police are corrupt.
Those road blocks are basically private toll gates and have nothing to do with promoting road safety or whatever.
So this new idea is basically a waste of time and resources.
It’s understandable to have doubts about the success of new technological initiatives, especially ones as ambitious as smart traffic management systems. There are several factors to consider when evaluating the potential success of such a system in Zim or any other location. The Key factors are Infrastructure, Implementation, Technology, User Adoption, Maintenance and Upkeep, Considering these factors, it’s reasonable to approach the prospects of Zim’s smart traffic management system with a degree of skepticism. However, with careful planning, investment, and community engagement, it’s also possible for such a system to overcome challenges and make a positive impact on traffic management in the region. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Suit
Sounds like your response was provided through an AI chatbot
Lets wait and see!!!!