Motorists and pedestrians in Harare are set to face increased monitoring as the government steps up efforts to enforce traffic laws through its Smart Traffic Management System, which uses cameras and electronic technology to detect road violations.
The system is currently operating at 20 sites in Harare and is expected to be extended to other towns and cities as authorities seek to improve road safety and identify traffic offenders.
The technology uses cameras, automatic number plate recognition and electronic monitoring to capture traffic violations. When an offence is recorded, the system automatically sends an SMS notification to the mobile phone number registered to the vehicle.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) national spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said pedestrians who cross roads at undesignated points would also face penalties.
“We want people to cross at designated points and the laws are there to be applied on those not adhering to this requirement,” said Commissioner Nyathi.
The system also places emphasis on keeping vehicle ownership records up to date, particularly when vehicles are bought or sold.
Commissioner Nyathi urged motorists to ensure that vehicle registration details are changed immediately after a sale to avoid being held responsible for offences committed by new owners.
When a vehicle changes ownership but the official records remain unchanged, traffic violations captured by the system may still be linked to the person whose name appears in the database.
This means that former owners could face legal and financial responsibility for offences committed by the people who bought their vehicles.
Motorists can check their outstanding traffic fines online through the ZRP ticketing platform or the government website, www.paymyfines.gov.zw.
The system was among the developments showcased when the ZRP invited journalists to experience the newly established Electronic Traffic Management System Command Centre at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters in Harare on 28 October 2026.
The government says the wider rollout of the system is expected to strengthen traffic law enforcement and improve road safety.
Motorists and pedestrians are urged to follow traffic regulations, while vehicle owners are encouraged to keep their registration details updated to avoid disputes over traffic offences.
