Harare dismisses takeover of City Parking

Sunday Mail Reporter

THE Harare City Council and its subsidiary City Parking (Pvt) Limited have dismissed claims by former Chegutu West legislator Mr Dexter Nduna that a company called Team Chapter would be taking over parking management in Harare’s Central Business District (CBD) starting tomorrow.

In a statement, the council said Mr Nduna’s assertions were “baseless and mischievous”.

“In his bizarre statement on social media, Nduna claimed that starting Monday 7 October, 2024, a grouping called Team Chapter will be in charge of parking in Harare, taking over from City Parking,” read the statement.

“CBD street parking is a prerogative of council. City Parking is a strategic business unit wholly owned by the City of Harare. The relationship between the City of Harare and City Parking is still subsisting. The City of Harare through City Parking remains responsible for managing parking in Harare and does not have any arrangement with Team Chapter or National Eye Security.”

Council urged the public to continue dealing exclusively with City Parking marshals for parking payments and disregard Mr Nduna’s claims.

In a separate statement, City Parking threatened legal action.

“City Parking is a private company owned 100 percent by the City of Harare with full mandate to manage parking in Harare. Parking fee payments are payable to City Parking marshals only.

“City of Harare has not engaged Nduna or any other company or individuals to collect parking fees,” it said.

“The threat by Mr Nduna to disrupt parking operations is not a threat to City Parking only, but to businesses and property laws and shall be met with law enforcement and legal action …”

However, in an interview last night, Mr Nduna said City Parking should clear itself of criminal charges that it is facing.

“We will not be deterred by threats that are coming from City Parking. They are partners in crime with Harare City Council. It should be known that City Parking needs to answer to charges of money laundering, tax evasion and fraud first before they start collecting parking fees again ever in the future. This matter is currently before the police, under CR number 500/09/24,” he said.

“City Parking and the Harare City Council have been running a criminal enterprise and they need to be stopped.”