New traffic system causes chaos at RTD

The Motor Traders Association (MTA) has complained that the upgrading of Malawi Traffic Information System (Maltis) has led to the loss of business since their customers have not been able to register new vehicles for three weeks now.

MTA chairperson Jolly Nkhonjera said in a letter addressed to the director of Road Traffic and Safety Services (RTSS) that there is need to rectify the problems the new system has brought before more damage is done to businesses.

Maltis is a system the Department of Road Traffic and Safety Services (DRTSS), under the Ministry of Transport and Public Works, adopted for capturing, processing and storage of traffic information.

It is also used for the issuance and renewal of drivers’ licences, motor vehicle licences, road permits and generating weighbridge data.

“The implementation of the new system has brought numerous problems to our members as they have not been able to register customers’ vehicles for three weeks now.

“This has led to loss of business during this entire period. It is in this regard that we request your office to speed up this process before more damage can be done to the businesses as a result of failure to register vehicles,” reads in part Nkhonjera’s letter which Business News has seen.

Nkhonjera said the issues were raised during one of the meetings MTA members had recently.

He noted that there was no stakeholders’ meeting on the new system before implementation, which has resulted in the current confusion at RTD offices.

“It is understood that the customers are required to register with Road Traffic Directorate [RTD] and be present when doing registration. There is need for clarification on this matter as we do not expect a customer who is based in Nsanje or Chitipa to travel all the way to do these processes,” said Nkhonjera.

He said there is congestion at RTD because of the flaws of the system, adding that local staff at RTD are not fully conversant, raising questions as to whether they were trained before the system was rolled out.

But Minister of Transport and Public Works Francis Kasaila yesterday assured the association that the problems will be sorted out because the system wants to bring sanity in the way vehicles are registered.

RTD is touting the system saying it will bring in a set of new business processes and procedures and improve on efficiency.