TENDAI BHEBE IN BULAWAYO
The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) in partnership with Tendy Three Investments (TTI) will launch a new voucher parking system by the end of next month as it seeks to raise more revenue, it has been learnt.
Motorists are currently paying US$1 for an hour.
“There is a lot of work that is happening where the partner (TTI) has been engaged to deal with that issue. That voucher will cover an hour from different parking bays,” Bulawayo mayor, Solomon Mguni, told a recent full council meeting.
He added: “It is something that is in progress. That will be done by the end of September. It will be developed and we will then see how it goes. The council will be advised. We just want to ensure that it’s done together with the partner.”
In 2020, the BCC awarded the contentious parking management system tender to TTI under a six-year build, operate and transfer arrangement.
Under the agreement, the local authority receives 30% of revenue, while TTI will take 70%.
The BCC has so far raked in U$$21 433.71 and US$15 968 in parking and clamping fees in a five-month period from its deal with TTI.
For the past weeks Bulawayo residents have been demanding that the BCC reduce parking fees charged by TTI arguing that a majority of motorists cannot afford them.
Meanwhile, addressing stakeholders in Bulawayo during a donation on Tuesday TTI board chairperson Lizwe Mabuza said they will listen to residents’ petitions.
“We are hearing your requests and so much has been said by the Bulawayo residents associations. If we love our city we have to listen to such concerns. As we speak right now, our IT department is working 24/7 trying to put that module.
The module will allow people to transfer their minutes from one bay to another. We are hoping that motorists will be able to park into the next bay. We have listened to the residents,” he said.
He added: “As a listening company, we will address issues that the residents are facing. You cannot buy respect, you earn it. You will see us acting according to those requests which you are having.”
The TTI donated food hampers worth US$33 000 to 1 200 families as part of their social responsibility.
Last year, TTI donated food hampers to 500 families during Christmas time.
