Device to control roadside police
ZIMBABWE police, who regularly make more than R750 million out of fines every month, will soon introduce “real time images” to try and control “corruption and harassment”.
Police daily issue admissions of guilt to many drivers in every town and city, and along all main roads in the cities and across the country.
Those accused of breaking the law usually have to sign admission of guilt forms and pay their fines immediately, on the spot. And as many motorists drive alone, when they are stopped at a roadblock, accused of a misdemeanour, they have no witness against usually three police officers.
The government apparently has no control over the number of roadblocks stacked up each day.
And there are increasing reports that people are being stopped by tricksters dressed up in police clothing.
The money from the fines is apparently shared among senior police staff. But in some ways relief is on the way via a new electronic system.
More then 500 gadgets have been imported and will be used as part of the electronic Traffic Management System managed from a distance.
Home Affairs Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo said: “The Electronic Traffic Management System is basically the best thing that has ever happened to this country. It’s simply e-policing, which ensures that when one is stopped at a roadblock, police will have with them an electronic device to scan one’s licence disc.
“There is no need for the motorist to exit his/her vehicle. The device then uploads all the information the officer may require, including the car owner’s name, national identification card number and the vehicle’s history.
“You don’t necessarily have to open your window. If the device does not detect any offence, then you will be told to proceed. However, if you haven’t paid your vehicle licence levies, for instance, the system will detect that, and the officer will ask you to pay.”
The device will be able to identify the police as bona fide.
There is almost no cash in Zimbabwe, but that won’t matter as Chombo said the system would be able to take the fine on the spot electronically.
He didn’t explain what might be the consequences for those driving borrowed cars, or tourists who can’t use their credit cards in Zimbabwe, or those who don’t have plastic money.
Foreigners who can prove they are visitors say one of the only protections they have while driving is to have no cash on them, although some police will then confiscate the driver’s vehicle.
Within Harare it is hard to travel more then a few kilometres before coming across a roadblock. Many residents warn one another, or navigate complicated alternative routes, to avoid roadblocks.
The lowest fine, according to statistics, is about R260. Police issue an admission of guilt and expect to be paid immediately.
Motorists travelling alone can usually not persuade police of their innocence, for example, if they are accused of not stopping fully at a stop street. Any broken light, or faulty indicator, fire extinguisher of a particular type, or missing small strips of red or white reflector tape, even inside passenger doors, leads to a fine.
Many motorists say they go though several roadblocks within suburbs and main roads every day. There are usually from 10 to 20 roadblocks between Harare and Bulawayo, and the same number from Bulawayo to the booming tourist resort, Victoria Falls.