The Sunday Mail
Sunday Mail Reporter
THE Harare City Council has been ordered to review the “grossly unreasonable” penalties levied on motorists who breach the city’s vehicle parking regulations.
In a statement on Friday, Harare Metropolitan Province Secretary of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution in the Office of the President and Cabinet Mr Tafadzwa Muguti said council must levy fines that “take into consideration the current state of the economy”.
Presently, motorists who fail to pay US$1 parking fees or omit topping up after expiry of their time limits within the Harare central business district’s parking bays are liable to a US$132 penalty.
The penalties have elicited protests from residents, who feel the fines are irrational and an attempt by city fathers to fundraise.
Last week, Mr Muguti convened a meeting with the City of Harare management and the police to address the issues following clashes between motorists and city parking marshals.
“While we encourage all local authorities to collect revenues from enforcement of by-laws, there has to be a human face to this practice,” said Mr Muguti.
“This includes taking into consideration the current state of the economy and that, globally, all economies are trying to recover post-Cocid-19, Zimbabwe included.”
Harare levies a US$132 fine for failure to pay for parking, while motorists are also charged an additional US$100 in the event of their vehicle being towed away and a US$20 “administration” fee.
“As Government, we find these fines to be grossly unreasonable and are not people-centred. There has to be engagement between the City Council and residents, especially motorists, prior to such resolutions being passed by councillors.”
Local government, he said, requires that council resolutions reflect the ambitions and expectations of residents.
He added: “So, parking fees reviewed upwards should have been a result of public consultations between councillors and residents in the respective jurisdictions.”
Consequently, said Mr Muguti, his office has requested the Minister of Local Government and Public Works to urgently intervene.
He said the Minister, Cde July Moyo, has subsequently set up a committee to investigate the matter.
The investigation team has been tasked with auditing the shareholding structure of City Park, its financial management systems, allegations of corruption by parking marshals and the justification of parking offence fines levied by Harare.
