Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata-Herald Correspondent
THE City of Harare has ordered an immediate removal of all abandoned and broken-down vehicles from guarded overnight car parks, shopping centres, open spaces and streets, a move that comes in the wake of a chilling incident in which three missing children from Kuwadzana Extension in Harare were found dead in the boot of a disused vehicle at a car park.
In a statement, acting town clerk Engineer Phakamile Moyo said the city will no longer tolerate the illegal storage of derelict vehicles in public and commercial spaces.
Owners and lessees of car parks have been directed to such cars within seven days.
“It is illegal to keep broken down vehicles at overnight car parks, shopping centres, open spaces and on streets outside residences,” he said.
“Lessees of guarded overnight car parks must, with immediate effect, remove broken down vehicles, car shells and scrap from the car parks.
“This should be done within seven days starting today (yesterday).”
Eng Moyo said the directive was part of efforts to restore order and public safety in Harare following growing concerns that abandoned vehicles were being used for criminal activities or had become death traps for children.
In the event of failure, Council will remove the car shells at a cost to lessees or owners of the cars.
“The City of Harare will take the vehicles and shells to a junkyard or site for disused vehicles where they will be stored awaiting disposal or auctioning,” he said.
The directive follows the heartbreaking discovery of the bodies of three minors reported missing by their families in Kuwadzana Extension.
Their bodies were beginning to decompose inside the boot of a long-abandoned car at a guarded car park.
