We still support speed cameras, says Siliya

“GOVERNMENT position on speed cameras has not changed and we support 100 percent the rollout of the intelligent traffic management system,” says Minister of Information and Broadcasting Dora Siliya.

Speaking at a media briefing yesterday, Ms. Siliya, who is also Chief Government Spokesperson, said the system is part of the United Nations’ Decade of Action, which aims at halving fatalities from road traffic accidents by 2020. “As such, the position of Government is that RTSA (Road Transport and Safety Agency) will continue rolling out the intelligent traffic management system to the rest of Lusaka and Zambia and that indeed on the roads that the signage is available, motorists will continue to be captured if they are over speeding and they will pay the fine. “The waiver only applies to roads where there is no signage and as far as RTSA is concerned, at the moment it was only the road that goes to the (Kenneth Kaunda International) Airport. Once again we want to emphasize that Government is supporting RTSA in the installation of the intelligent traffic management system. People are confused they think that we have changed our minds or we haven’t changed our minds,” Ms Siliya said Meanwhile, RTSA) says it will inform the nation of its position on the waiver of fines slapped on motorists captured on the speed cameras placed on roads without proper speed signage once the issue was concluded. This is despite Government’s directive to RTSA to waive traffic fines slapped on motorists captured on the speed cameras placed on roads without proper speed signage and refund those who already paid. When contacted, RTSA head of public relations Fredrick Mubanga said the agency would inform the nation of its position once the matter was concluded. “We will inform the nation once we reach a conclusion on the issue,” Mr Mubanga said. The introduction of the road safety law enforcement using road side cameras in Zambia has raised public outcry because motorists were fined not only during the trial period of the system but there was also no signage to show placement of the speed cameras and in some places even the speed limits were not visible.