POS machines for parking fees

Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
Masvingo City Council will soon introduce Point of Sale (POS) machines to make it easier for motorists in the country’s oldest town to pay their pre-paid parking fees. This comes in the wake of incessant complaints by motorists in the city that pre-paid parking marshals always demand cash despite the prevailing cash shortages.

Masvingo mayor Councillor Hubert Fidze last week said council resolved to embrace the use of plastic money for all its transacting clients to make it convenient for them to make payments.

“We have heeded calls for the use of POS machines from the motoring public to create convenience. We are in the process of engaging Steward Bank over the issue,” said Cllr Fidze.

It is believed that through the arrangement, the bank will be able to retain a certain percentage for the service.

“We are going to be charged a certain fee for the use of the bank’s platform and we are working with speed to have these machines as soon as possible. It is our wish that our clients can use all possible payment platforms, as cash has proved to be scarce in the country,” Cllr Fidze.

“We are embracing the use of plastic money in all our departments and this also includes swiping and mobile phone money transfer facilities, even for bill payments including water tariffs. Motorists have been complaining that our marshals are demanding cash only for pre-paid parking fees.”

Minutes of Masvingo recent full council meeting show that the finance and general and general purposes committee led by Cllr Babylon Beta discussed with Econet Wireless to enable payment of pre-paid parking fees through Steward Bank.

“City treasurer Mrs Thandiwe Dube advised council that the bank was charging 0,5 percent per transaction for Zimswitch and 1,5 percent for the MasterCard and Visa card,” reads part of the minutes. It was resolved that the introduction of point of sale machines for the pre-paid parking section be approved and the city treasurer be instructed to engage Steward Bank over the matter.”