Councillors push for Easipark appointments

board.
Upfumi Kuvadiki, a youth economic pressure group started the scramble for the control of the parking management business, prodding councillors to get interested.
There was a heated debate at last Thursday’s full council mee-ting with chairman of the business committee, Clr Wellington Chokombo, insisting councillors should appoint people to the Easipark board.
Easipark is a joint venture between the city and South Africa’s Easihold.
Clr Chikombo said council should adopt his committee resolution that the city should take over “management and administration of parking facilities”.
This implies disbanding of the legally-binding arrangement with the South African partners.
Mayor Muchadeyi Masunda said the city needed to define the qualities of directors it needed to run the utility, and people with the requisite business competencies should be appointed.
It also emerged that the company has been operating without a shareholders agreement, which is now expected to be signed before the end of May pending finalisation of unstated outstanding issues.
“The shareholders’ agreement is still to be concluded,” said chamber secretary Mrs Josephine Ncube.
Harare is expected to appoint two additional board members to join town clerk Dr Tendai Mahachi and Mr Mike Clark of EasiHold.
EasiHold will add one more director.
It seems debate over control of the company stems from inadequate information or misinformation and a senior official who reportedly have personal interests.
Town House sources alleged councilors were working with a senior official who fears losing control of the money-spinning venture.
“(The official) wants the councillors to protect him and his colleagues’ interests.
“The councillors feel he is doing them a favour but in actual fact he is leading them down the garden path,” said the source.
Clr Chikombo said council should initiate re-branding of the Easipark logo, and change the company name and uniforms.
Clr Peter Moyo said the city should be fully represented on the Easipark board and should be “calling the shots.”
But Clr Hieronymo Torongo said the city could not unilaterally change anything without its partner’s consent.
He was supported by Clr Thembinkosi Magwaliba who said the city could only influence decisions through its appointees to the board and could not make unilateral executive decisions.
“The resolution has serious implications and complications,” he said.
Clr Thomas Muzuva said the South African national colours on the marshals’ uniforms were a mockery to Zimbabweans.