Peter Matika in BULAWAYO

TRAFFIC police officers across the country are undergoing training in the use of newly acquired breathalysers, which will be rolled out during the upcoming festive season as part of an intensified effort to curb alcohol-related road traffic offences.

The Government recently handed more than 100 breathalysers to the Zimbabwe Republic Police, marking a major shift towards technology-driven road safety enforcement.

The devices will be distributed to all 10 provinces ahead of the holiday period, a time traditionally associated with increased travel and a spike in road crashes as well as drunk driving.

National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said the training programme was now at an advanced stage.

“Our officers are currently undergoing specialised training to ensure they understand how to use the breathalysers correctly. Once deployed, it is only a matter of time before all road traffic offenders are dealt with,” he said.

Comm Nyathi said the devices would provide scientific, verifiable evidence during traffic enforcement operations, strengthening prosecutions and reducing disputes at roadblocks.

The introduction of breathalysers is part of broader measures by Government and the police to promote road safety during the festive season, including intensified highway patrols, speed monitoring and compliance checks.

Comm Nyathi reminded motorists to exercise caution and avoid driving under the influence of alcohol.

“Driving while intoxicated remains a serious offence that endangers not only the driver but other road users,” he said.

The initiative marks Zimbabwe’s first large-scale deployment of modern road-safety enforcement technology and will be complemented by speed cameras and a new fleet of Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID) operational vehicles expected to be unveiled this week.

The vehicles will reinforce roadside inspections and enforcement of vehicle fitness regulations.

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona last week said the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) had finalised procurement and technical specifications for both breathalysers and speed cameras.

The equipment, he noted, will help authorities clamp down on speeding and drunk driving, which are the two major contributors to fatal crashes.

“These measures will strengthen a culture of road discipline, reduce accidents and enhance public safety across the transport network,” said Minister Mhona.

Road safety remains a national concern, with more than 94 percent of crashes attributed to human error.

A breathalyser is a scientific device used to measure alcohol concentration in a person’s breath, providing quick, accurate and legally admissible results.

In the absence of such equipment, officers have relied on subjective observations, such as slurred speech or unsteady movement, indicators that are easily challenged in court.

Under the Road Traffic Act, driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 80 milligrammes or more per 100 millilitres of blood is a criminal offence that attracts heavy penalties, including fines, imprisonment of up to five years, and loss of a driving licence for one year for first offenders, five years for subsequent offenders and a lifetime ban for those who refuse to conform.

Stricter penalties apply to commuter omnibus and heavy-vehicle drivers, who can face between one and 10 years in jail as well as loss of licences.

Minister Mhona said road safety has been elevated to a national development priority aligned with the SADC Road Safety Action Plan, the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety and the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), which is transitioning to NDS2.