Story By Otillia Makomo
Zimbabwe’s transport modernisation drive received strong international visibility as Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona addressed the 88th Session of the Inland Transport Committee in Geneva, Switzerland, positioning the country as an emerging adopter of smart, data driven and automation based inland transport systems.
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Book NowDelivering his address under the theme Driving innovation for the future of inland transport, Minister Mhona outlined how Zimbabwe is transitioning from legacy, paper based and manually enforced systems toward digitally integrated, technology enabled transport governance. His presentation framed innovation not as a distant policy ambition, but as an operational reality already being implemented across traffic management, public transport, logistics, and vehicle regulation platforms.
From an analytical perspective, Zimbabwe’s message at the global forum signals a deliberate policy shift, moving transport from a compliance driven sector into a technology anchored productivity enabler. By highlighting artificial intelligence powered traffic systems, cashless public transport, and integrated digital registries, the country is aligning transport reform with broader Fourth Industrial Revolution goals and national development strategies.
Among the flagship reforms presented was AI powered traffic management, including intelligent camera systems capable of automated violation detection and penalty processing, supported by solar enabled infrastructure. This marks a structural change in enforcement philosophy, reducing human interface, limiting discretion, and potentially lowering corruption risks while increasing efficiency and consistency in road supervision.
Smart public transport systems are also being introduced through tap and go cashless ticketing and GPS based vehicle tracking. Analytically, these tools do more than improve commuter convenience. They generate movement data, improve route planning, support safety monitoring, and enable regulatory authorities to better understand urban mobility patterns and congestion triggers.
Minister Mhona also highlighted digital logistics transformation through real time fleet analytics, telematics, and ride hailing platform integration. These systems help optimise fleet performance, reduce downtime through predictive maintenance, and improve turnaround times in the haulage sector. For an economy that depends heavily on road freight, such efficiencies translate directly into trade competitiveness and cost control.
A key institutional reform pillar is the Integrated Transport Management Information System, which replaces fragmented paper based registries with a secure digital backbone covering vehicle registration, licensing, and inspections. The addition of automated brake roller testers introduces machine verified inspection results, reducing manipulation risk and strengthening roadworthiness enforcement through objective data.
Zimbabwe’s participation in the Working Party on Automated, Autonomous and Connected Vehicles was also strategically significant. Engagement at this level allows the country to track evolving global standards early, shape its regulatory readiness, and avoid technological isolation as autonomous and connected vehicle ecosystems expand worldwide.
In policy terms, Zimbabwe’s contribution at the session reflects three deeper priorities, regulatory transparency, corruption resistant systems, and interoperability with international standards. It also signals intent to deepen cooperation with global partners while modernising domestic infrastructure and governance frameworks.
Taken together, the Geneva address positioned Zimbabwe not merely as a participant in global transport dialogue, but as a reforming system actively piloting innovation led inland transport solutions, where digitalisation, automation, and data governance are becoming central to how roads, fleets, and public mobility are managed.
