Gweru rakes in $5000 a day on parking fees

Freedom Mupanedemo Midlands Correspondent
GWERU City Council is now reluctant to revise its high parking disc fees which have caused an outcry from motorists and businesses in the Midlands capital.  This follows revelations yesterday by the Mayor, Councillor Tedious Chimombe that the exercise was raking in $5 000 a day.The parking disc system was introduced by the council last week and motorists are supposed to pay $1 per hour for vehicles parked within the Central Business District.

Council public parking zones cost $3 per day.
The programme has sparked outrage from motorists who are arguing that the fees are too high compared to what motorists are paying in other towns.

In Bulawayo motorists pay $32 for a three- month term or alternatively pay $1 a day for parking in the CBD.
In an interview, Clr Chimombe said the council had shelved plans to revise the parking fees downwards citing the significant revenue inflows into the cash- strapped council’s coffers.

“We got a briefing from the finance committee and figures availed show that the new system is bringing in $5 000 a day into council coffers.
“That is good news. We have shelved plans to review the fees as we feel local motorists have welcomed the idea which is not only bringing in significant revenue to council but has also helped bring sanity in our CBD,” he said.

Clr Chimombe said the council was heavily relying on   revenue   from   ratepayers   and   the   introduction of the parking disc system would help expand the council’s   revenue   base   thereby   improve   service delivery.

“Our industry is dead and the council has been struggling when it comes to service delivery with many rate payers defaulting. The new parking disc system is a welcome move and we hope to use part of the revenue to improve our service delivery,” he said.

Gweru motorists are however accusing the council of imposing the parking fees on them.
They argue that the $1 per hour parking fees is too high.

The motorists say the Gweru rates are higher than those charged by bigger cities like Bulawayo and Harare.
Gweru Town clerk, Mr Daniel Matawu told Chronicle last week that council was just trying the new system.

He promised then that council was going to revise the fees after gathering views from members of the public.