TENDAI BHEBE IN BULAWAYO
Motorists in Bulawayo ignored calls to boycott parking in the central business district (CBD) following a backlash against high parking fees,it has emerged.
The Bulawayo Business Development Association (BBDA) organized the failed boycott, which was supposed to take place from Monday through to Saturday of last week. BBDA advised motorists not to leave their vehicles parked in any of the Tendy Three Investments (TTI) pay parking space after the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) announced new parking fees effective June 1, 2023.
For a platinum package, motorists are now paying US$90 a month, while those who subscribe for gold package, they fork out US$50 a fortnight. For a silver package, motorists pay US$30 a week.
The secretary for administration for the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association, Thembelani Dube confirmed the failure.
He said motorists disregared the call to boycott the CBD as TTI marshals were visible conducting their regular business throughout the city centre.
“As BPRA we have always advocated for affordable parking fees and the plans to boycott as far as we are concerned it was not a success. And TTI continued with their day to day work. T he cars were being clamped ,tickets were being issued and the staff was busy at work.So as far as we are concerned the boycott was a nullity and no one heeded that,”he said.
Dube said residents were lobbying for cheaper parking fees.
“However, let me be quick to say that when we are talking about developing cities, parking fees contributes to that development .But what we are advocating for is that the fees must be affordable to the generality of the public,” Dube said.
He added: “We are advocating for a reduction of parking fees.”
Lizwe Mabuza, the TTI board chairperson said the new parking packages introduced have received positive feedback from motorists in the city.
“These guys never sought audience with us and this is not to say we are worried about their misguided position. Not at all.What we know is that genuine business people in the city have been engaged and are fully behind this whole project,” Mabuza said.
According official data obtained from BCC, over 50 vehicles are clamped daily on undesignated parking areas in Bulawayo’s CBD since the parking system came into effect some few years ago.
In 2020 the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) awarded the parking management system tender to TTI under a six-year build, operate and transfer arrangement.
Under the arrangement, BCC gets 30% of the revenue, while TTI takes 70%.
