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Trust Freddy Herald Correspondent
Harare City Council and police have teamed up to crack down on illegally parked vehicles, mainly targeting areas overrun by “parking barons”, a return of the touts seizing control of the bays and driving off City Parking staff, and vehicles that are hazardously parked.
By the end of yesterday over 50 illegally parked vehicles were impounded.
This follows an influx of parking barons that have overrun and seized control of several Harare streets,resulting in a significant loss of revenue for the city council.
The rogue operators have been disregarding parking regulations and intimidating motorists into paying for parking in unconventional spaces. They sometimes direct vehicles to park at an angle when the marked parking spots are parallel, resulting in a chaotic and unsafe situation on the streets.
The Herald yesterday witnessed over 10 cars being clamped and others being towed by the Harare City Council on Sir Seretse Khama Street near the private parking area formerly known as Ximex.
The enforcement team also visited the area near George Silundika Street and First Street Mall, where a number of vehicles were clamped, including those that were being washed in violation of city by-laws.
The parking barons quickly fled when the police and Harare city officers made an unexpected visit to their illegal parking bays, leaving several motorists to face the authorities and the consequences of parking illegally
According to investigations by The Herald, the parking barons charge between US$1 or US$2 for more than 3 hours parking which is less than the US$1 an hour charged by City Parking marshals.
“Most of these parking barons are drug addicts, for just a $1 you can park your car for more than three hours,” a man who was only identified as Tindo, a dealer at Ximex said.
“Several parking bays along George Silundika are being operated by these barons.”
There are several parking bays near Copacabana where money changers operate and do not pay parking fees.
“City Parking marshals will not clamp our cars. We just give them something when they knock off at 4pm, “ an alleged money changer who operate close to Copacabana and Market Square said.
A number of motorists caught offside were allowed to drive their own vehicles to the City Council officesto pay fines instead of going through the route of impounding and having vehicles hoisted onto the back of a truck.
Harare City Council spokesperson Stanley Gama yesterday confirmed that there was an ongoing blitz.
“The city has embarked on a major enforcement blitz to get rid of Harare traffic chaos mainly caused by illegal public transport operators and ‘parking barons.’
“Today, municipal police clamped and impounded more than 50 illegally parked cars especially in the notorious areas around Sir Seretse Khama Street and Nelson Mandela Avenue. The parking barons, who illegally collect money from residents were caught unaware when the municipal police started the operation.”
After the parking barons, Mr Gama said they will target bus ranks until order is restored.
“The blitz will then focus on commuter omnibuses without city council disks. We urge commuter omnibus operators to update their payments at the City Council offices to avoid inconveniences of having their vehicles impounded.”
City Parking, spokesperson Mr Francis Mandaza said drivers should be compliant when they park and drive in and around the city.
“It is in the best interest of all residents and motoring public to ensure smooth flow of traffic to avoid unnecessary traffic jams.”
“The blitz is also targeting illegal parking space barons or touts who commandeer parking bays and harrass drivers collecting parking fees illegally and washing cars in parking bays against the law. “
Mr Mandaza warned the public against paying parking fees to unauthorised individuals, and emphasised that parking fees should only be paid to the City Parking marshals.
“Motorist who pay to illegal touts will have their vehicles clamped and the touts risk getting arrested.”
Online Reporter