WE’RE SORRY, SAYS MAFUME . . . as city parking turns into a wild west

Tanaka Mahanya

HARARE mayor, Jacob Mafume, says they are putting some measures in place to ensure that City Parking enforcement methods do not traumatise motorists.

Concerns have been raised about the wild and violent conduct of some City Parking marshals, who engage in fights with motorists.

Many motorists have complained that the marshals hide only to emerge to clamp the vehicle.

Speaking at a media briefing yesterday, Mafume said they had heard motorists’ complaints and would act accordingly.

“We don’t want marshals fighting with the public, there is no need for that. 

“People have rights, and I believe those involved should be disciplined. “The manner in which they do their job has to be civil. 

“We have to be polite, handle people with respect to make sure that people are not traumatised by our enforcement methods.

“Elderly, women, children and others should be treated better, so we will ensure that our officers, and others we delegate, conduct themselves in a manner that is respectful to the public.” 

He said City Parking officials will ensure that marshals are trained in customer care.

Concerns have been raised about the wild and violent conduct of some City Parking marshals, who engage in fights with motorists.

“People are complaining that they are being clamped a few minutes after their tickets have expired. 

“Some people are delayed while having doctors’ appointments. 

“They come back four minutes after and find their vehicles clamped.

“We will consider that and ask City Parking to give a grace period, of which they have suggested a grace period of 10 minutes after the ticket has expired, so that when motorists come back, they pay for the additional time.

“Some have indicated that when they arrive at parking bays, parking marshals literally hide.

“We will ask them to consider putting a ticket in arrears as our tickets are electronic, which is problematic and the motorist should not be blamed,” he said.

He said they were only implementing their bylaws.

“It is a process to change the fines. We apologise for the inconvenience to the motoring public, and to those ill-treated.”