Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Mat South Bureau Chief
CONCERNS are mounting in Gwanda as the local authority prepares to introduce paid parking, with motorists and business operators demanding a practical and inclusive system that caters to the town’s workforce and entrepreneurial community in the central business district.
Gwanda Municipality is planning to introduce a paid parking scheme in the mining town, as part of its strategy to enhance revenue collection and bring order to the CBD. However, the proposal has received mixed reactions from residents.
While some support the initiative as a necessary measure to manage traffic congestion, others have expressed concerns over the potential inconvenience it may cause, particularly for individuals who work in the CBD and require all-day parking.
“There is a need for the municipality to devise an effective system that won’t inconvenience those of us, who work in town and need to park our cars all day.
“As ratepayers, we already contribute to council revenue. The proposed system should consider that we spend full working days in town, and the council must also address poor road markings before charging us for parking,” said Mr Eric Moyo, a local business operator.
However, another motorist, Mrs Sibongile Nkomo, voiced support for the initiative, citing persistent parking challenges in the CBD.
“Sometimes it’s difficult to find parking because some vehicles remain parked for hours. Paid parking could ease congestion, but the fee should be affordable given Gwanda’s size. It should not become a burden to motorists,” she said.
Gwanda Mayor, Alderman Thulani Moyo, confirmed the municipality is working on the logistics of the scheme, including whether it will be managed internally or through a public-private partnership.
He said that the council is losing out on potential revenue that could be channelled towards key infrastructure development, such as road repairs and maintenance.
“We have set the ball rolling to enforce our traffic by-laws. For starters, our municipal police have intensified patrols in the CBD to monitor proper vehicle parking and clamp down on illegal pick-up points by taxi operators,” said Ald Moyo.
He emphasised that revenue generated from the parking system would be reinvested in improving infrastructure, particularly the repair of potholes and general urban maintenance.
“We also want to attract investors, and for that, our town needs to be orderly,” he said.
Ald Moyo stressed that restoring order in the CBD remains a key priority, and that the municipality is already taking steps to enforce existing by-laws ahead of the official implementation of the paid parking system.
Like many urban centres across Zimbabwe, Gwanda faces financial challenges that have affected service delivery and infrastructure upkeep. Several towns and cities have already adopted paid parking systems as a dual solution for revenue generation and traffic regulation. — Follow @DubeMatutu
