NEW: “Parking barons causing violent clashes in Harare’s central business district”

The Sunday Mail

Online Reporter

HARARE City Council (HCC) says most incidents of violent clashes in the central business district were being caused by “parking barons”.

In recent months, videos have emerged of municipal police and parking marshals clashing with some members of the public over some misunderstandings.

HCC head of corporate communications Mr Stanley Gama said: “Violence is targeted against our parking marshals. It is not every resident who resorts to violence; it is the parking barons whose criminal activities have been busted that end up using violence to express their anger.

“We have no place for parking barons in the city. We report every incident of violence to the police. As a matter of fact, one of the perpetrators has since been convicted.”

The municipality, he said, is currently undertaking a customer care training programme for its parking marshals and municipal police.

“We are in the process of training our parking marshals and municipal police officers on customer care,” he said.

“Every resident, including senior citizens, must be treated with respect and dignity.”

Mr Gama urged Harare residents to report any bad treatment by parking marshals and municipal police.