Source: Smart traffic lights unveiled in Mutare – herald
Herald Reporter
ZIMBABWE has taken a major step towards modernising its road transport infrastructure with the unveiling of a locally-developed Hybrid Smart Traffic Control System in Mutare, an innovation expected to improve traffic flow and strengthen road safety.
The state-of-the-art smart traffic lights, designed and built by Kwekwe Polytechnic, automatically monitor traffic volumes and adjust signal timings in real time, reducing congestion and cutting unnecessary delays at busy intersections.
The system was officially unveiled recently at a ceremony attended by the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Manicaland Province, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Professor Fanuel Tagwira, senior Government officials, City of Mutare officials, principals of tertiary institutions, staff and students.
Unlike conventional traffic lights that operate on fixed time intervals, the new system uses intelligent sensors to detect vehicle density and regulate traffic according to demand, allowing roads with heavier traffic volumes to receive longer green-light phases while minimising waiting times on less busy roads.
The smart traffic lights are also equipped with modern surveillance technology that includes high-definition cameras, automatic vehicle counting and classification, number plate recognition and the detection of motorists who violate red traffic lights. Vehicles that pass through red lights are automatically captured, with their registration details recorded and displayed on dedicated traffic management software to support law enforcement.
To ensure uninterrupted service, the system operates on a hybrid power platform that combines electricity from the national grid, solar energy and battery backup. The traffic lights can continue operating for up to 20 hours during power outages and can function independently under favourable solar conditions.
Speaking during the unveiling ceremony, Prof Tagwira said the project demonstrated Zimbabwe’s growing capacity to develop world-class engineering solutions that address local challenges.
“The fruits of Heritage-Based Education 5.0 are now evident through innovations such as this Hybrid Smart Traffic Control System.”
Prof Tagwira said the locally developed traffic lights reflected the Second Republic’s philosophy of Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo by proving that Zimbabwean institutions have the expertise to produce advanced technologies that were previously imported.
He applauded the City of Mutare for choosing a home-grown solution instead of importing traffic control systems.
“I would like to commend the City of Mutare for believing in the capabilities of our local institutions. This project is a practical example of import substitution. Every locally developed solution that replaces imported technology saves foreign currency, creates jobs, strengthens local industries and contributes to national economic growth,” he said.
Prof Tagwira challenged other local authorities to embrace locally developed technologies by partnering with universities, polytechnics and innovation hubs.
The smart traffic lights were conceived in 2022 by Kwekwe Polytechnic’s Electrical Engineering Department after they identified the need for a traffic management system capable of addressing increasing congestion while remaining operational during power cuts.
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