The Road Transport and Safety Agency has announced that it will not waiver traffic fines slapped on motorists captured on the speed cameras.

RTSA Chief Executive Officer Zindaba Soko said the fines must be paid within 30 days.

Mr Soko said the placing of road speed Signage has been done with the authority of the Road Development Agency (RDA) who are the mandated Agency in this area.

He said the standard being used is the SADC standard and aligned to the National Traffic Signing approved guidelines.

Mr. Soko also announced the agency will re-register all vehicles in accordance with the road traffic act which demands that vehicles are re-registered every 10 years.

Below is the full statement

MEDIA BRIEFING ON THE IMPLEMENTATION STATUS OF THE ROAD MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

20TH AUGUST, 2018

ROAD TRANSPORT AND SAFETY AGENCY (RTSA) CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, MR. ZINDABA SOKO

On 23rd August 2017, the Government of the Republic of Zambia through the Road Traffic and Safety Agency (RTSA) signed a 17 year Public Private Partnership Concession Agreement with Intelligent Mobility Solutions (IMS) for the design, installation and operation of systems and solutions for vehicle inspection, vehicle registration, road safety law enforcement and traffic surveillance, nationwide.

The move was to address the problems associated with the increase in the vehicle population which resulted into increased road accidents on many of our roads in Zambia.

The number of vehicles on Zambia’s roads increased by 280% to 700,000 in the ten years to 2016 and road fatalities increased from 10 per hundred thousand inhabitants to 13.8 per hundred thousand in the same period. In 2016 alone, 2,206 people died in traffic related accidents. Therefore, it is the aim of the Zambian Government, through its agency the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) to significantly increase road safety and traffic management. In February 2018, Intelligent Mobility Solutions (IMS) and RTSA unveiled the Road Safety Management System with the goal of saving lives on our roads.

The Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) today Monday 20th August 2018 commencedthe enhancement of the existing signage of speed zones with additions of the speed camera sign of camera speed signs on public roads.

While this action is one of the first tangible elements of the Road Safety Management System launched on 7th February, 2018 RTSA recognize that photo or video-based enforcement will have limited effect pending the implementation of a secure number plate vehicle identification system.

The Road Transport and Safety Agency, says, “The cameras detect various road infringements including speeding. Camera technicians have been trained on the latest technology using a live camera, which also has the capability to conduct night operations.”

The placing of such Signage has been done with the authority of the Road Development Agency (RDA) who are the mandated Agency in this area. The standard being used is the SADC standard and aligned to our National Traffic Signing approved guidelines. The RTSA has been receiving concerns from various members of the public:

1. Complaints of no real time

2. On the infringement notices by sms

Speed alignment and speed zone upgrades among others.

4. Visibility of signage

5. Messages

I wish to inform the general public and the concerned motorists that we have a huge problem of crashes coupled with the fatalities and serious injuries as a result of excessive speed. As RTSA we have embarked on a process of managing various bad driver attitude by the use of ICTs and the difference we will have is that this will be electronically monitored. This eliminates the checkpoints undertaken for speed management purposes.

The particular roll-out began with four cameras and now at 6 and from the assessments so far our abrogations of the law are being done with impunity.

I would like to give an example of a stop sign on a particular road that road sign is an enforceable warning if not obeyed and fines are applicable to such an abrogation. As motorists we go into driver training before we can drive and this is part of the 10 basic rules that we learn to obey traffic signs. Hence the concern of no information of a traffic warning of a camera is noted and is being currently addressed considering that in the next few weeks more speed enforcement equipment shall be rolled-out within the next few weekswith aligned and upgraded speeds for only selected roads.

The way the other road furniture in terms of signage like give-way, curve ahead, pedestrian crossing and so on is complied to. This new phenomenon must be adhered to as the law demands for the protection and saving lives of all road users.

The scenario now is that motorists want to adhere to the laws in place only when the enforcers are in view. This is a bad attitude and our minds need to adapt to the attitude of self compliance as opposed to forced compliance. As RTSA our interest is to save lives and the use of ICTs is the way to go as a country.

The placement of aligned signage including camera speed signs shall later be extended to other major highways before the implementation of the road side speed cameras enforcement is rolled out to other parts of the country.

As you are aware the issue of excessive speed is one of the top five causes of road traffic crashes.This move is part of the best practices and standards in ensuring that motorists drive at appropriate speed and changing the bad driver behaviour of excessive speed being exhibited on the Zambian roads.

However, The Road Traffic (Speed Limits) Regulation – Statutory Instrument No.90 of 2016 states that the prescribed speeds are as follows:

1. Within the area of a Local Authority – 40 KM per Hour;
2. Built up area outside the Local Authority -60KM per Hour; and
3. In any other part of Zambia (Trunk Roads) 100 and 120 respectively

On the other hand, modalities are being put in place to address concerns associated with the enforcement of road side speed camera management which has to do with signage in collaboration with RDA enhancement that has to be adhered to.

The rate at which lives are being lost, it is therefore inevitable that we halt the crashes hence us going in this direction.

We want to assure the public that the implementation of the project will be perfected to the desired direction soonconsidering that our paramount realisation from this project is to save lives.

As you may be aware, the current RTSA vehicle database has a population of 765,000. However, only fifty per cent of these vehicles appear to be active and hence re-registration exercise that the Agency is currently working on the process of implementation

The re-registration of Motor Vehicles exercise countrywide is in accordance with the provisions of the Road Traffic Act No. 11 of 2002, which demands that a re-registration must be undertaken every 10 years.

Therefore, vehicle owners will be required to re-register their motor vehicles and trailers once the Agency announce the commencement date of this exercise.

The following are the benefits of the re-registration of motor vehicle and trailers:

• Improved security for vehicles; • No check points as all motor vehicles will be electronically screened;
• Electronic payment of fines, road tax and other services;
• Improved service delivery at tolling points for quick passage;
•Improved compliance for motor vehicle fitness and licensing; •Improved and enhanced monitoring of speed for all vehicles; and
• Easy correction and updating vehicle details.

The re-registration of motor vehicle and trailers will enhance electronic motor vehicle registration with secure number plates and Radio Frequency Identifier (RFID) and it will be done at reduced fee.

The issue of motorists’ complaints that they don’t own a particular are addressed by the act as follows:

Section 13 of the Road Traffic Act No. 11 of 2002 Seller must inform the licensing officer of the District in which the motor vehicle or trailer is registered in writing of the name and address of the new owner and the date of change of ownership of the vehicle.

Within 14 days of sale Section 13(5)

Failure to notify the licensing officer in writing of change of ownership of motor vehicle renders the vehicle impoundable. The Seller is also liable for an offence which is punishable by a fine of 1000 penalty units equivalent to K300.

Buyer must within 14 days of sale deliver the registration document to the licensing officer who shall register new owner.

It should be noted that while the law requires a buyer to deliver the registration document to the licensing officer within 14 days of buying the vehicle in line with Section 13(1) (b), it does not make it an offence to fail to deliver the document.

This requires a person who buys a vehicle within Zambia to present the vehicle together with the letter of sale, change of ownership certificate and registration document at Zambia Police Headquarters for Interpol clearance within 30 days of buying the vehicle.

Failure to present the vehicle for Interpol Clearance renders the buyer liable for an offence which is punishable by a fine not exceeding 200,000 penalty units or Kwacha equivalent of K60,000 Within 30 days of buying vehicle.

Going forward as RTSA we shall increase our sensitization levels on the next speed management areas of camera roll-out.

In conclusion, let me state that there shall be no waiver on the fines that were sent to offending motorists as pre notices about this project was communicated to members of the public .

Due to the foregoing, we wish to indicate that the period of payment of fines will be within 30 days from the date of infringement and note that all the payment platforms are secure.

We therefore, advise all motorists to observe appropriate speed limits, drive with caution and help reduce the numbers of road traffic accidents in Zambia.

I thank you.

The Lusaka High Court has set August 30,2018 as date for hearing of the case where UPND Leader Hakainde Hichilema alleged that his right to be heard was violated when the Constitutional court threw away his election petition.

High court Judge Mwila Chitabo adjourned the matter at the request of Mr. Hichilema’s legal counsel.

The lawyers asked the court for an adjournment because they have no instructions from their client.

It was at this point that Judge Chitabo awarded costs to the State before adjourning the case.

The case came back to the High court after the Supreme court threw away Mr. Hichilema’s appeal in which he wanted Judge CHITABO to recue himself from handling the matter because of perceived bias.

In this case, the State is represented by Attorney General Likando Kalaluka, Francis Mwale and Joe Simachela.

Mr. Hichilema is being represented by Marshal Muchende and Robert Simeza among others.

Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court has upheld the election of UPND Kapiri Mposhi Constituency candidate Stanley Kakubo as the duly elected member of Parliament in the 2016 General Election.

The Court observed that the grounds upon which the High Court upheld Mr. Kakubo’s election had merit.

In this matter PF’s Chrispin Siingwa petitioned the election of Mr. Kakubo on account of electoral malpractice.

But in its finding the Constitution Court observed that the allegations were not proved by Mr. Siingwa.

Constitution Court Judge Enock Mulembe said there are no reasons for him to overturn the decision of the court below.

Chanda Mbao has just released a controversial new track as he urges his followers to await The Bigger Wave.

The bumping Hip-Hop track produced by Shinko Beats, which has a mellow jazz-infused instrumental, sees the MC expressing his view on some issues in the Zambian music game including award nominations, criticism from haters and industry politics.

When asked what inspired the song Chanda Mbao noted: “I just felt like putting some genuine and personal thoughts in a song, particularly as I’m working on the roll-out of some very big projects. I just wanted to talk to the real fans and young or new artists in the game.”

“I remember listening to ‘Man in the Mirror’ by Slap Dee, one of my favorite Zed Hip-Hop tracks, and the feeling of hearing that personal dialogue from an MC who was at the top but in some senses felt alone there. That record resonated with me and inspired me. I’m not at the top like him but this is just my version of that sentiment.”

The Levy Mwanawasa Foundation has requested Cabinet to consider declaring August 19th as a Public Holiday in honour of late President Levy Mwanawasa.

19th August, ten years ago is the day that Dr Mwanawasa died in a French military hospital.

Foundation Chairman Dr Moses Banda said the Holiday does not necessarily need to be a full Holiday but could be a working one because of economic considerations.

Dr Banda was speaking at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka during the 10th Memorial Service of the late Dr Mwanawasa.

Dr Banda said declaring a Public Holiday will go a long way in honoring the legacy of the late Dr Mwanawasa.

“As a foundation, we honour his adherence to rule of law. Did Mwanawasa achieve all his goals for Zambia, no he didn’t achieve his goals, did he attempt, yes he did,” Dr Banda said.

He stated that Dr Mwanawasa took one more step into making the nation’s understanding of his ideals and that it is now up to Zambians to endeavor to sustain his legacy.

Former First Lady Dr Maureen Mwanawasa remembered her late husband as man who had a deep sense of justice.

She said for Dr Mwanawasa, Justice was none negotiable.

She has since on Zambians to use the occasion of the 10 years of his death to reignite the spirit of oneness and reconcile which the late Dr Mwanawasa demonstrated when he reconciled with then opposition leader late Michael Sata.

At the same event, President Edgar Lungu said the PF vividly remembers and warmly feels the brotherly handshake between Dr Mwanawasa and Mr Sata and the assistance Dr Mwanawasa rendered to Mr Sata for medical attention.

“For us, that is a sign of a great leader who was selfless and from that we draw from his strength,” Mr Lungu said.

“We should not fail to recognize that Dr Mwanawasa was not a saint but a normal human being and he had a vision for Zambia to be a just society where rule of law prevailed. Dr Mwanawasa envisioned a country with opportunities for the Young and where hunger will be relegated to the history books,” Mr Lungu said.

He continued, “the onus is now on all of us to keep his legacy alive.”

And in interviews shortly after the memorial service, UPND President Hakainde Hichilema said late Dr Mwanawasa, ensured that the rule of law, justice and equity took centre stage.

Mr Hichilema said Dr Mwanawasa vigorously led the fight against corruption and that he will be remembered for massive economic recovery resulting debt reduction.

“These are some of the many leadership inspirations we learnt from the son of the soil and as a country we must ensure that such progressive works are not let down for the greater good of us all,” Mr Hichilema said.