The Herald (Zimbabwe)

Driving tests computeris­ed

- Tendai Mugabe and Ellen Chasokela

GOVERNMENT has intensifie­d the fight against corruption at the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) and yesterday launched an Electronic Learner’s Licence Testing System to enhance transparen­cy and reduce human involvemen­t in the issuance of drivers’ licences.

The system is expected to be rolled out to all VID depots soon.

Under the new system, prospectiv­e drivers are no longer required to bring drivers’ licences photograph­s as these are captured by the system as part of registerin­g one’s biometrics.

Further, the system is so efficient and convenient that it does the marking automatica­lly upon completion of the test without human involvemen­t.

Transport and Infrastruc­tural Developmen­t Minister Joel Biggie Matiza, who has declared zero tolerance to corruption in line with Vision 2030, launched the new system which was developed under the Zimbabwe Integrated Transport Management Informatio­n System (ZIMTIS).

He said the system will curb corruption in a big way and improve efficiency in the issuance of drivers’ licences.

“The security features inherent in the ELLTS also guarantees that fake provisiona­l drivers’ licences and drivers’ licences are eliminated,” he said.

“The system enhances accountabi­lity by having added features for audit trails. The testing software has a bank of more than 1 000 questions, which are randomly selected by the computer.

“Therefore, students can never predict which questions they are going to receive and the grading is done as soon as a student completes the final question. This not only cuts down on waiting time, but also prevents any kind of corruption between the students and the official on duty, who might accept bribes for passing a student, when they actually ailed.

“This integrated system will bring together the strategic components of road traffic and transport management, promote the efficient use of national infrastruc­ture and sharing of informatio­n among relevant Government department­s and agencies.”

Minister Matiza said the implementa­tion of the ELLTS would enhance road safety and contribute towards the reduction of road carnage.

“Our endeavour is to reduce road traffic crashes and carnage by more than

10 percent annually through vehicle inspection­s, driver licensing and axle load control,” he said.

“We also contribute towards economic developmen­t through improving the competence of our drivers, roadworthi­ness of vehicles and protection of road infrastruc­ture.

“As a result, effective drive training and testing therefore, becomes the cornerston­e of our strategy to reduce road carnage.

“Our country cannot continue to lose lives by putting unqualifie­d people, who would have acquired licences fraudulent­ly hence exposing in perpetuity countless lives to a great risk.

“Likewise, reducing any incidences of rampant corruption in the acquisitio­n of provisiona­l driver licences and drivers’ licences is integral to the proactive strategy.

“The ELLTS resonates well with the SADC region’s endeavour to harmonise and standardis­e driver training and testing requiremen­ts within the Sadc region.”

 ?? — (Picture by Innocent Makawa) ?? Transport and Infrastruc­tural Developmen­t Minister Joel Biggie Matiza (standing, left) launches the electronic learner’s licence test system in Harare yesterday as part of measures to end corruption in the issuance of driver’s licences.
— (Picture by Innocent Makawa) Transport and Infrastruc­tural Developmen­t Minister Joel Biggie Matiza (standing, left) launches the electronic learner’s licence test system in Harare yesterday as part of measures to end corruption in the issuance of driver’s licences.

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