adminYeukai Karengezeka Herald Correspondent
Car Safe, which is responsible for commercial parking facilities at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, has hiked parking fees by 100 percent from $10 to $20 per hour.
Motorists believe that there is no justification for the hike.
Spokesperson of Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ), which owns the facility, Ms Anna Hungwe, confirmed the new fee without giving reasons.
“Yes, I can confirm that parking now costs $20 per hour, $30 after an hour, then $80 for long term,” she said.
“However, reasons as to what led the increase, that can be answered by the company we contracted to offer the service.”
Efforts to get a comment from Car Safe were fruitless as their numbers were unreachable.
Meanwhile, City Parking has dismissed information circulating on social media that parking in the central business has increased.
“We dismiss whatever has been circulating on social media. Our charges are still the same and if there is any changes we will advise accordingly,” said the company’s public relations manager Mr Francis Mandaza.
The firm is charging $2 per hour.
The rumours started circulating after Harare City Council’s announcement that it intends to hike towing and clamping fees for light vehicles by 1 000 percent with effect from August 1.
Harare Residents Trust (HRT) castigated the pending increase, saying it was going to perpetrate more corruption.
“Raising the clamping rates 10 times does not resolve the question of shortage of parking space in the central business district,” said HRT official Mr Precious Shumba.
“In fact, it presents an opportunity for parking marshals to increase the amounts they ask as bribes because a few people will be able to pay the new tariffs.
“Their charging on any service should not be out of reach of many users.”
Online Reporter