adminArron Nyamayaro
SOME motorists have questioned the legality of City Parking’s authority to ticket them as they claim only Harare Municipal Police have the statutory mandate.
There have been clashes between motorists and parking marshals, who clamped their vehicles, and charged them an enforcement fee.
“We want to know if City Parking has taken over the mandate of Harare Municipal Police or they have become partners in crime?” said one motorist.
“I was shocked to see an enforcement charge on my parking ticket.
“They claim to be enforcing laws that include clearing those washing vehicles on parking bays, but if it is true that they have that mandate, it’s one area promoting corruption considering what is happening at these parking bays.”
Another motorist said the changes have come with a lot of confusion.
“You just don’t work up and announce such a major shift, it causes a lot of confusion,” he said.
City Parking public relations officer, Francis Mandaza, told H-Metro that the Central Business District (CBD) parking authorities are jointly working with Harare City Council Harare Traffic Enforcement.
“City of Harare has mandated City Parking to enforce parking and traffic by-laws within Harare effective February 16, 2023.
“The mandate includes clamping, fine ticketing and fine collection on parking and traffic offences.
“The move is expected to increase compliance and convenience to the motoring public as fines shall be payable to our staff on the street.
“Please note, while City Parking enforces on offences committed in parking bays, it shall work jointly with City of Harare traffic enforcement in and around Harare Central Business District.
“As a reminder, some offences that warrant clamping and fining include, but not limited to; failure to display valid parking ticket, continued parking on expired ticket, parking over lines of parking bays, obstruction of parking/traffic, wash motor vehicle in parking place, failure to display vehicle licence, etc.
“Please pay for parking to avoid inconveniences associated with clamping,” said Mandaza.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter