The Harare City Council has criticised the decision to grant free parking discs to Members of Parliament (MPs) in the central business district.
Last week, Jacob Mudenda, Speaker of the National Assembly, announced that MPs were entitled to two exempt vehicles from parking fees, which are set at US$1 per hour in Harare.
As reported by <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200039013/councillors-shoot-down-free-parking-for-mps-plan">NewsDay</a>, during a full council meeting on Friday, Ward 16 councillor Denford Ngadziore said that there had been no council resolution on the matter.
He asserted that the council would reverse the decision, saying only people with disabilities should be exempt from parking fees. Said Ngadziore:
<blockquote>
We are told that MPs will no longer be required to pay parking fees in Harare’s central business district.
As council, we are against the move and this should be reversed at all cost, this decision was not even discussed by us councillors.
We are eating from ratepayers’ money, let’s discuss the matter, we can’t do this without a council resolution, we have people whose cars are being auctioned.
</blockquote>
Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume acknowledged the issue, saying, “I have heard you, councillor Denford Ngadziore, we are looking into the matter”
In Harare, war veterans and senior citizens aged 70 and above are exempt from paying parking fees.

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Harare City Council is annoyed about MPs getting free parking. They were not asked about this decision. Councillor Denford Ngadziore said only disabled people should be exempt from fees. Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume said they will look into this issue. In Harare, only war veterans and people over 70 can park for free. The decision to give MPs free parking has caused a lot of disagreement in the city council.

Harare Councillors Challenge Decision To Grant MPs Free Parking Discs

Members of Parliament are now exempt from paying parking fees in Harare’s Central Business District. This follows an agreement between Parliament and City Parking, the company that collects parking fees for the City of Harare.
Speaker of the National Assembly, Jacob Mudenda, announced that Parliament has reached an agreement with City Parking to allow two vehicles per Member of Parliament to park for free in the CBD. Said Mudenda (via <a href="https://openparly.com/mps-exempted-from-paying-parking-fees-in-harare/">Open Parly</a>):
<blockquote>
I also wish to inform the House that the Administration of Parliament has reached an agreement with the City Parking, to exempt two vehicles belonging to each of the Members of Parliament from paying parking fees in the Harare Central Business District.
You are therefore requested to submit copies of registration of the two vehicles to the Human Capital Department in office No. 340 on the Third Floor in order to finalise the arrangements.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe has more than 200 parliamentarians who will now enjoy free parking in Harare, while ordinary citizens and residents will still have to pay US$1 per hour to park in the same area.
Award-winning journalist Hopewell Chin’ono commented on the situation, saying that politics in Zimbabwe has become a business, with both the ruling and opposition parties seeking to renew their “business mandate” during election time. He posted on social media:
<blockquote>
I have told Zimbabweans that politics in Zimbabwe is now a business, where both the ruling and opposition parties come to them at election time to renew their business mandate.
But due to political illiteracy, some of our citizens would die for these crooks and looters! If you want free things, join politics!
The fact that both ruling and opposition parties seek a mandate from the people during elections, only to prioritise their own interests and financial gain once in power when hospitals have no medication is wild and tragic m.
Political illiteracy contributes to this cycle, as citizens who are not well-informed about the political process or the motivations of their leaders are more susceptible to manipulation and empty promises.
</blockquote>

Members of Parliament in Harare now don't have to pay for parking in the city. They made a deal with City Parking to let them park for free. Each MP can have two cars parked for free. This means over 200 MPs in Zimbabwe can park for free while others still have to pay. A journalist, Hopewell Chin'ono, said that politics in Zimbabwe is like a business. He thinks politicians only care about making money, not helping people. People need to be informed about politics so they don't get fooled by politicians.

MPs Now Enjoy Free Parking In Harare Central Business District

The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has resolved that residents who are 70 years old and above will now be exempted from paying parking fees in the city.
The exemption was announced by the City of Bulawayo’s partner in parking management, Tendy Three Investments (TTI) on Friday.
The company has since requested those who fall under the category to bring their documents for registration by 30 January 2024.
BCC acting corporate communications manager, Bongiwe Ngwenya told <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/no-parking-fees-for-those-over-70/">The Sunday News</a> that the local authority has decided to waive parking fees for residents who are 70 years old and above to honour them for their contribution to the growth and development of the city. She said:
<blockquote>
This is an appreciation of the contributions of the elderly who have worked for the growth and development of Bulawayo during their peak days. The exemption package is a way of honouring them.
The package also came about following stakeholder consultation and residents’ contributions towards service delivery and a call from the policy makers for such consideration to ease the livelihoods of the elderly who have passed working age.
</blockquote>
According to a notice by TTI, those eligible will have 25 hours of free parking a month with one registered motor vehicle per elderly person and the beneficiary must be in use of the vehicle either as a driver or passenger. It reads:
<blockquote>
Upon utilisation of the 25 hours of free parking within a particular month, the motor vehicle will be required to thereafter commence payment of regular parking fees.
Any vehicle found misusing this exemption package will be permanently removed from the database without the possibility of re-submission of the application.
The exemption allows you to park within the designated white boundary parking bays and exempted vehicles found in violation of the City of Bulawayo (Clamping and Tow Away) By-laws will be dealt with as per the By-Laws.
</blockquote>
Those who are eligible to be able to register for the exemption package must provide a national identity card, proof of residence in Bulawayo, a valid driver’s licence and a motor vehicle registration book in the name of the eligible senior citizen.
In addition, the vehicle registration must not be less than three months from 15 January 2024.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Bulawayo Council Waives Parking Fees For Those Over 70

Bulawayo City Council has warned motorists who evade paying parking fees by removing wheel clamps from their vehicles that they risk being jailed.
This was said by Bulawayo City Council Acting Senior Security Traffic Officer, Ndumiso Ndlovu, in an interview with <a href="https://cite.org.zw/jail-sentence-for-motorists-who-illegally-remove-clamps-from-their-vehicles/">CITE</a>.
Ndlovu was speaking on the progress of the city parking system, which is being implemented by Tendy Three Investments (TTI).
TTI is set to effect new parking packages on 01 June 2023. The packages come in three categories, Silver package pegged at US$30 per week, Gold Package pegged at US$60 per fortnight and US$90 per month.
Ndlovu acknowledged that there are instances where clamped motorists remove the clamps from their cars and drive off. He said:
<blockquote>
That is a very serious offence that one can be reported to the police. According to the city by-laws, one can be jailed for up to a year or can be fined up to US$50 or both.
… As a council, we are selling parking time. As such we have demarcated and clearly marked parking bays with white boundary lines which are either broken or solid.
The ones demarcated with yellow lines are totally different and you have to fall into specific categories to park there. 
These are taxi bays, offloading bays, cyclist bays, ambulance, etc.
However, by practice, we do not clamp any vehicles where parking bays are not clear.
The challenge comes up when you avoid the demarcated bays and park elsewhere.
</blockquote>
BCC parking project manager, Vusisizwe Sibanda, said that according to the city by-laws, motorists should pay first before leaving their cars. He added:
<blockquote>
At the beginning of June, we are introducing a system where we are saying for the first five hours if you have not paid you will not get clamped.
It is only after you have accumulated five hours that you will get clamped. This will benefit those who would have forgotten to pay.
Accumulation of a debt of five dollars is quite justifiable for attracting a fine.
The penalty would be clamping fee for $10, a fine of $10 and the amount that you would be owing for parking.
</blockquote>
TTI chairman, Lizwe Mabuza, said they have improved their system to make it more convenient for motorists. He said:
<blockquote>
We have made changes to our systems. The system we have now is such that when the marshals print a ticket for you it will show the time you have paid, when it will expire and underneath it will show if you have arrears.
These can be debts dating as far back as you have accumulated them. If the information is not very clear to you, you can ask for a detailed printout which will show the amount of time you parked and the location.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Motorists Who Illegally Remove Wheel Clamps Risk Imprisonment

A Harare motorist, Gladman Bandama, has given Harare City Council’s subsidiary City Parking a 48-hour ultimatum to return the US$132 he was made to pay after his vehicle was clamped in the central business district on 8 March, reported <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200008828/motorist-demands-us132-fine-refund">NewsDay</a>.
City Parking marshals clamped Bandama’s vehicle over parking fee arrears and then fined him US$132 to have the vehicle released.
He is being represented by Tinashe Chinopfukutwa from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR).
Bandama’s Toyota Corolla was clamped at the Central Vehicle Registry offices along Robson Manyika Avenue.
Allegations are that Bandama had paid parking fees for an hour, but was delayed by 15 minutes only to find his vehicle clamped.
He reportedly offered to pay the parking fees for another hour, but the marshals refused and billed him US$132 in fines.
The vehicle was not towed away after he paid the fine. Wrote Chinopfukutwa:
<blockquote>
In terms of section 4(4) of the Harare (Clamping and Tow Away) By-laws 2005, clamp charges are only chargeable when a motor vehicle has been moved to a secure compound.
There is no legal provision for payment of clamp charges when the vehicle has not been moved to a secure compound.
</blockquote>
The lawyer further argued that parking marshals had no legal authority to enforce traffic by-laws on behalf of the City of Harare. He wrote:
<blockquote>
In terms of section 4(6) of the Municipal Traffic Laws Enforcement Act, an authorised person is a peace officer or a person employed under any law as a parking supervisor.
In the instant case, your parking marshals are neither peace officers or employed in terms of any law.
</blockquote>
On Monday Harare mayor Jacob Mafume said motorists who delay paying parking fees by two hours will be allowed to pay.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Harare Motorist Demands US$132 Fine Refund From City Parking

Harare City Council has bowed down to pressure from motorists following an uproar over the US$132 fine the local authority was charging for failing to pay parking fees on time.
Last week, the council’s subsidiary, City Parking, deployed its marshals who were clamping all vehicles whose owners were delaying paying US$1 parking fees.
Motorists who delayed paying the US$1 parking fees were fined US$132 for their vehicles to be unclamped.
Addressing council officials on Monday, 13 March, Harare mayor Jacob Mafume said motorists who delay paying parking fees by two hours will be allowed to pay. <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200008776/hcc-relents-on-parking-fines">NewsDay</a> quoted Mafume as saying:
<blockquote>
We have developed a protocol that a motorist first pays US$1. However, because of delays of two hours, the motorist will be allowed to pay for the arrears ticket.
Those motorists with large sums of arrears are the ones to be clamped for failure to pay the stipulated (fee).
We delayed the implementation of towing-away and storage charges. The ticket was US$229 for towing and storage on the same day.
If a vehicle is clamped, a person is given time to pay for the offence before clamping and towing charges can begin to operate.
Our fines are US$50, and clamping charges US$65, which sum up to US$132 after value-added tax.
We will delay the implementation of the clamping charges so that if you pay your fine within the stipulated period, then the charge for the clamping will not accrue, hence reducing the fine significantly.
We need to increase our payment system so that people can pay on the EcoCash platform and other service providers and also our WhatsApp chatbot.
</blockquote>
Mafume reminded Harare motorists that stepping on white lines, double parking and wrong parking, are traffic offences.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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