Slashed parking fees: No immediate reprieve for Bulawayo motorists

MOTORISTS will have to wait longer before they can start paying slashed parking fees by the Government, as a Statutory Instrument with the new figures is yet to be published.

The Government announced the slashing of fees by 50 percent, a move that is set to improve the ease of doing business across cities.

In Bulawayo, motorists in the city have been involved in both running battles and unending disputes with Tendy Three Investments (TTI), which is running the city’s parking system, saying the fees were too expensive. Parking costs US$1 per hour.

Last week, the Government announced the reduction of parking fees, including clamping and towing penalty charges in all local authorities countrywide as part of the Government’s review of licences, permits, levies and fees in the transport sector.

Motorists will, however, have to wait longer for the implementation of the new parking fees enforced by TTI, the local parking enforcement company, said Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart.

In a brief interview yesterday with the Chronicle, Mayor Coltart said Bulawayo motorists should not expect to immediately start paying the announced slashed parking fees.

“Bulawayo City Council is bound by the statutes that dictate parking fees across all municipalities in the country. The Government (through the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services) announced the reduction of parking fees, but we (council) cannot react to statements made by the Government.

“Council stands guided by the line ministry (Ministry of Local Government and Public Works). I haven’t studied the particular law, but I believe the Government must enact legislation through an Act of Parliament or an SI (Statutory Instrument) for the reduction of parking fees to take effect,” said Mayor Coltart.

“Council has not received official communication, so we are still waiting for communication from the line ministry and only then can motorists start paying the new parking fees,” said Mayor Coltart.

Last week, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere said the Government’s focus to reduce parking fees, among others, was to streamline regulatory overlaps, eliminate unnecessary fees and make it easier for businesses to thrive.

Cabinet also reviewed other fees related to vehicle registration, licensing and ownership transfers, ensuring that the transport sector operates with greater efficiency and lower financial burdens. In addition, the Government also took decisive action to eliminate the US$23 000 duty on transit fuel, a move that is expected to have immediate positive effects on the transport industry by making it simpler to route fuel tankers through Zimbabwe.

Yesterday, a Chronicle news crew spoke to businesspeople who said they welcomed the decision by the Government to slash parking fees. A Bulawayo businessman and proprietor of Ilanga Mall located in the CBD, Mr Nkosilathi Dube, said Bulawayo residents have been avoiding spending time in the city centre as a result of high parking fees and businesses in the central business district (CBD).

“Motorists were now forced to park their vehicles on the periphery of the city centre to avoid paying parking fees, and that meant they spent less time in the CBD, affecting our businesses. The slashing of parking fees means people will spend more time in the city centre, and it is good for business because more human traffic in the city translates to more spending.

“The decision to cut parking fees by half is a welcome development for business and we look forward to cashing in from motorists who will now have more disposable income,” said Mr Dube.

The mall offers a springboard for small businesses and a hub of cultural and commercial activity.
Mr Methuseli Sibanda, a shop owner along Joshua Mqabuko Street, said he looks forward to customers spending more time in the CBD.

“Two hours of parking will now cost US$1 or R20 and I don’t think our customers will mind spending that money to do their business and shopping in the city centre. We (businesspeople) have long called for the Government to compel local city councils to reduce parking fees because they increased the cost of doing business, and finally, we are happy that our pleas have been listened to,” said Mr Sibanda.

Bulawayo United Residents’ Association chairman, Mr Winos Dube, hailed the move by the Government to slash parking fees.

“The residents of Bulawayo will definitely welcome the reduction of parking fees. Residents have a lot on their plates from rentals, groceries and transport costs to worry about and high parking fees are piling more misery on the already financially struggling residents,” said Mr Dube.

In addition to cutting parking fees by half, the Government has also streamlined regulatory overlaps and duplications, rationalised licences and permits, removed unnecessary levies and fees and lowered unjustifiably high levies and fees for the following transport sub-sectors: passenger transport, haulage and cargo, taxi services, and other transport services in tobacco transportation and boating services.