Trust Freddy
Herald Correspondent
THE automated traffic enforcement system is operating at 98 percent accuracy despite a handful of operational errors that resulted in fines being sent to wrong motorists, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe has said.
Responding to questions in Parliament last Wednesday, Minister Kazembe acknowledged complaints from drivers who received tickets for vehicles they do not own after cameras misread or omitted a digit from number plates.
“We have received about plus or minus five million violations, and we have received these errors, which are probably about 10 or 20,” Minister Kazembe said.
“On that scale, or as a percentage, we believe the system is probably 98 percent or 99 percent accurate, but that does not justify those errors.”
Minister Kazembe attributed the incorrect tickets to human lapses during the police validation process rather than faults within the system itself, which was developed locally by TelOne.
He said officers are required to review video footage before any fine is issued, including in situations where traffic police are directing vehicles or when a motorcade is passing through.
“What is supposed to happen, and what we have already started looking into from an operational perspective, is that before a ticket is issued there is a validation process,” he said.
“It means we are lacking from an operational perspective, and I have spoken to the Commissioner-General to say that there are these complaints; can you please attend to them?”
“If it is not happening, it means someone is sleeping on duty and we have to deal with that,” he added.
The minister said Government takes full responsibility for the mistakes and is working urgently to address them.
He also noted that the platform allows motorists to verify offences before making any payment.
“The good thing is that the system allows you an opportunity to view the video and confirm whether it was indeed you,” he said.
“You are not being asked to pay without verification. That is why it gives you a link. It provides a link that allows you to view the video and check whether the offence is correct or not.”
Reiterating support for the locally developed technology, Minister Kazembe said: “We want to thank the President that nyika inovakwa nevene vayo, but we take responsibility and we are attending to that issue.”
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