Harare traffic cameras flag 4.8m offences, checks before any fines

Updates

1. 08:30 GMT, Monday 2 NovemberLatest

   Police deny fines will be scrapped at Harare "crime hotspots". Police have rejected claims on social media that traffic offences caught by the new cameras at four Harare junctions seen as crime hotspots at night will be cancelled, The Herald, Pindula News and NewZimbabwe reported. The four junctions named by motorists and the media are Seke Road and Cripps Road; Samora Machel Avenue and Abdel Gamal Nasser Road; Remembrance Drive and Cripps Road near Mupedzanhamo; and Jason Moyo Avenue and Abdel Gamal Nasser Road, Pindula News and NewZimbabwe reported. Some drivers had raised fears about stopping at these lights after dark. "The Zimbabwe Republic Police has never said it will cancel all traffic violations at the perceived or alleged crime hotspots," police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said on Saturday, as quoted by Pindula News. He said each case "will be treated on its merits, as the cameras are monitored in real time", and that the cameras are also used to watch for crime at those junctions, not only for traffic enforcement. Nyathi said the Officer Commanding Harare Province is closely monitoring police deployments at the junctions, and that police have not recorded criminal incidents there "for some time" because of those deployments, according to The Herald and Pindula News. What this means for drivers: there is no blanket night-time waiver at these junctions. If you get a notice for an offence at one of them, the police position is that it will be looked at case by case. Police have still not published an official payment channel in the sources we checked, so treat any message asking you to pay a traffic fine with caution. Read source

2. 08:25 GMT, Thursday 29 October

   Cameras now live at 20 Harare sites, with 14 days to respond or pay. Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the Electronic Traffic Management System is now operational at 20 sites in Harare, The Herald and 263Chat reported. He was speaking on Wednesday 28 October, when journalists were shown the system's command centre. Nyathi said the system will soon expand to other towns, NewZimbabwe reported, and offenders are already being notified of fines. According to The Herald, motorists caught committing offences will get an electronic notice and have seven days to respond, then a further seven days to pay any fine. Those who fail to respond within the 14-day period risk being blacklisted and placed on a police wanted list for prosecution, The Herald reported. Drivers will be able to view the recorded video and choose between paying the fine and appearing in court, the paper added. Police also said the rules apply to everyone, including drivers of government vehicles, 263Chat reported. The Herald said journalists at the briefing raised concerns about the system's legal basis, its reliability, its use of artificial intelligence and electronic notifications, and asked for a grace period so people and organisations can bring their vehicles into compliance. Police have still not published an official payment channel in the sources we checked, so treat any message asking you to pay a traffic fine with caution until police confirm how to pay. Read source

3. 12:35 BST, Friday 23 October

   Police have now named the official places to check and pay traffic fines. In a statement from national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi, the Zimbabwe Republic Police said motorists should check the status of their violations and any outstanding deposit fines only at www.paymyfines.co.zw and www.paymyfines.gov.zw, or at designated traffic police stations, TechnoMag and ZimStar News report. The police said they have not contracted any agents to collect fines, either in person or online, The Granite Post and TechnoMag report. If anyone else asks you to pay a fine, do not pay them. Motorists have started getting notifications on their phones. Each one goes to the vehicle's registered owner and includes a link to the video of the recorded offence and the fine, according to TechnoMag. Drivers caught going through a red light face a court appearance rather than a standard deposit fine, TechnoMag reports. Nyathi also urged owners to make sure their vehicle's ownership records are up to date, The Granite Post reports. Someone who sold a car without changing the registration could get notices for offences committed by the new owner. TechnoMag reports that recorded footage is reviewed by people before a fine notice goes out, to filter out cases such as drivers who went through a red light because a traffic officer told them to. On Friday, the Daily News reported that authorities are moving to fix operational flaws in the system. Nyathi told the paper the system's main aim is road safety, not penalising motorists. Read source