Kazembe admits smart traffic system has made ticketing errors

Responding to questions in the National Assembly this week, Kazembe said there was evidence the system had erred, "missing probably one digit" when capturing number plate details. He said the government accepted responsibility and was dealing with the problem urgently.

The minister said every offence the cameras detect is meant to be checked by police officers before a ticket is sent. He said human error may have contributed to the disputed notices, because an officer could have missed a mistake. He said he had asked the Commissioner-General of Police to attend to the complaints.

Kazembe said the number of errors reported to the ministry was small compared with the roughly five million violations the system has recorded, which he put at "about 10 or 20". He added that the small number did not justify the mistakes.

Opposition legislator Ropafadzo Makumire, reported as a Citizens Coalition for Change member, told the House that some cameras were sending pictures that did not match the offences attributed to motorists. She urged the government to perfect the system before police issue fines, NewZimbabwe reported.

How tickets are checked

Kazembe said notices include a link that lets vehicle owners watch the video of the alleged offence, so motorists are not asked to pay without verification. ZimEye reported that motorists keep the right to challenge penalties in court.

Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi earlier said officers were reviewing about 4.8 million flagged violations, examining footage and registration numbers before penalties are imposed, the Herald reported. In August, Kazembe told the Senate that fines would be backdated once Treasury finalises banking arrangements.

What is not yet known

The reports reviewed do not say how many motorists were wrongly ticketed, whether any tickets have been withdrawn, or how motorists can dispute a mistaken notice. The Post has not seen a response from the Zimbabwe Republic Police.