Sold your car but never changed the paperwork? In Zimbabwe, the fines can still land on you. The Zimbabwe Republic Police warned this week that anyone who fails to change vehicle ownership within two weeks of a sale remains responsible for offenses committed with that car.
How the cameras find you
The warning follows the rollout of the Smart Traffic Management System, which uses cameras, sensors and number-plate recognition. It is fully operational at 20 intersections in central Harare. When a vehicle is flagged, the registered owner gets a text message with details of the offense and a link to the footage.
Police say an officer reviews each case at a command center before a notice goes out. Assistant Commissioner Gajiwett Gomo, the police IT director, called it “another layer of human validation.”
That is the catch for sellers. The registered owner stays tied to the number plate until the transfer is complete, so someone who sold a car months ago could still get the notice. “The seller remains accountable,” police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said.
Motorists get seven days to respond to a notice and another seven to pay. Those who ignore both deadlines can be blacklisted, placed on a police wanted list and face a warrant of arrest. Fines run from Level 1 to Level 3, which Nyathi put at about $5 to $30 depending on the offense.
The system has already flagged about 5 million suspected violations, and police plan more than 300 cameras in Harare before expanding to other cities and towns. The push comes as Zimbabwe recorded 48,150 road crashes and 1,979 deaths in the first nine months of the year.
What drivers should do
Police urge drivers to complete transfers after buying or selling a car, check that their phone numbers and vehicle records are up to date, and respond to notices promptly. Payments should go through official government platforms only, since authorities warn that fraudsters may pose as officers and send fake links.
