The Malawi Department of Road Traffic has experienced excellent results with its state-of-the-art, fully computerised Malawi Traffic Information System (MALTIS) which has not only addressed numerous functional problems but impacted significantly on road safety management and revenue.
Face Technologies, a subsidiary of leading South African IT solutions and services provider, arivia.kom, was awarded the contract, valued at approximately R39 million, in 1998. It has successfully completed the first phase of the project with the second phase nearing completion.
Stephen J Mkandawire, director of the Malawi Department of Road Traffic, notes: "Malawi took a giant step forward moving from a paper system to a fully computerised system, which is totally compliant with SADC (South African Development Community) protocols.
"Revenues have soared since the implementation of the system with the department generating enough income to pay for the system. It is also proving to be an excellent statistical management tool allowing us to report on the driving population in the country, which was not possible before. It is also enabling us to make better management decisions on traffic safety, road administration, personnel and projections in terms of budgets."
The new system was implemented after the Malawi government instituted a new Road Traffic Law in 1997 which was aimed, among other things, at redressing the shortfalls in the legal framework and providing for the adoption of modern techniques in traffic management and control, in order to root out rampant traffic indiscipline.
"This state of affairs had not only aggravated the problem of road traffic safety on our roads, but also deprived the government of much needed revenue, through pilferage and massive fee evasion by motorists," says Mkandawire.
The first phase of the project involved the conversion of the previous driving licences to the new SADC Driving Licence cards, new learner`s licence applications and authorisations, new driving licence applications and authorisations, Professional Driving Permit applications and authorisations, and card production, quality assurance, dispatching and issuing.
The new driving licence card incorporates various high-tech features including biometrics, rainbow printing and UV markings.
Says Face Technologies operations manager, Jake Ellis: "This first phase was extremely successful. Initially, we had to overcome opposition to the system by some members of the public as it put an end to the widespread circulation of fake licensing materials and documentation, which had severely undermined the functional integrity of the department in the past."
"Progress was slower than initially anticipated as all personnel needed to be trained and many had never operated a computer before. We undertook the project on a Build, Operate and Transfer concept and we are now in a position to administer the system with the department personnel fully trained and responsible for operating the system."
The second component involved Motor Vehicle Registration and Licensing, which has been rolled out in the three major towns - Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Blantyre. The system is in place and is continually monitored to resolve any problems that might arise.
Ellis reports that the implementation is running very smoothly as all personnel are now familiar with the system and only require training on the new functionality.
The final component to be deployed will be the Cross-Border Vehicle Information module, which will serve three border crossing points. The software has already been developed and it is aimed to complete this implementation by the end of the year.
Further developments to the system are also envisaged including mobile driving licence verification devices, which can be used at the roadside and the introduction of a Traffic Offence Point module.
Concludes Ellis: "The response to the new system by traffic officials from neighbouring countries who have visited Malawi to view the system has been remarkable."
Face Technologies is also implementing similar systems in Zambia and Tanzania.
Other projects in the transport information arena include the existing South African Driving Licence and the new National Traffic Information System for SA.
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