Local engineer designs traffic lights
signed a Understanding A ZVISHAVANE-based electronic engineer is building traffic light controllers using local products amid revelations that the locally produced components save municipalities half the cost of imported ones.
In an interview Thinkernel Pvt Ltd director Mr Zariro Manzungu told Sunday News Business that he was working on a project to locally manufacture all components that are required for a traffic light to function as well as replace all the imported hardware.
He said by the end of the year, his company would have researched on the solutions of doing away with imports for all traffic lights.
“At the moment we have repaired two traffic lights in Zvishavane using locally acquired parts and we are also in the process of building a solar-controlled traffic light from scratch. Our systems use solar power because it is basically free and you only incur initial costs, it has low maintenance costs and you do not face problems of dysfunctional traffic lights when there is an electricity fault or power cut,” said Mr Manzungu.
Outlining the process of building a traffic light, Mr Manzungu said the first stage was identifying a problem with a non-working traffic light or a new one as well as getting specifications followed by the designing process that involves developing the software and subsequently the hardware that suits the (MoU) with a Tanzania-based grain trading company for the importation of 100 000 tonnes of non-genetically modified organism maize from that country. The MoU will be interpreted in terms of the laws of Zimbabwe. This is one of many other initiatives aimed at ensuring enough maize supplies in the country.
Productivity per unit area has gone down in Zimbabwe to 0,8 tonnes per hectare from around 2,2 tonnes per hectare during the past years as a result of the vagaries of the weather. software.
He said after simulation of software, it is burnt into the micro-controller and an integrated test is done.
“This process of developing both the software and hardware is done in our workshop before we then connect cables to the lights into the whole system and the process takes up to four weeks,” said Mr Manzungu.
According to local authorities, initially they would hire companies that buy controllers outside the country to repair or build traffic lights and then do installations but having locally produced
Grain traders and miller are expected to also mop up locally produced maize but would further increase import to 700 000 tonnes from Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and South Africa. This is expected to assist the Government to alleviate food shortages due to the drought the country is going through.
The millers have gone on to negotiate for safe passage of maize imported from around the world through various ports.
GMAZ early this year entered into a structured logistics plan with Mozambique’s national rail company, controllers is apparently saving them and in the process promoting the Buy Zimbabwe campaign.
Mr Manzungu said his company that started operating in April this year also designs control systems for the mining and telecoms sectors.
On his journey so far, he said it has been challenging as approaching town councils with proposals as a new company is difficult as most hire based on experience and they found it difficult to take them seriously.
He said his breakthrough was when he did the YaFM transmitter and Camhinhos de Ferro de Mozambique aimed at expediting movement of imported maize from the ports of Beira and Maputo via Machipinda and Chicualacua into Zimbabwe.
Tanzania is expected to export grain to 13 fellow Southern Africa Development Community and East African community member states facing grain deficits as weather patterns continue to affect agricultural production. studio installations which he used as recommendations for prospective jobs.
“As a small company, we hire people on a contract basis to assist when we have a project.
“However, there are certain machines that we need to purchase when we access funding that will help grow the business like 3D printers and moulding machines as well as other tools of the trade,” he said.
Mr Manzungu said with a fully equipped factory or workshop, locals have the means and expertise to compete with imports.