Parking fee reprieve for Harare motorists

Wilson Kakurira

Harare City Council has reversed a decision by its parking management subsidiary, City Parking, to hike parking fees in the Central Business District.

City Parking had pegged parking fees to one United States dollar an hour or an equivalent in Zimbabwe dollars at the prevailing rate.

Council spokesperson Michael Chideme said the decision to reverse the fee hike was reached following what he described as a widespread outcry from city motorists.

“For now we can safely say those parking fees are no longer in use, while we allow for more consultations to take place,” Chideme said.

He added, “We will make sure that the new fees that will be announced in due course will be embraced by motorists.

City Parking public relations manager Francis Mandaza said discussions are underway with council to come up with a substantive tariff by next week.

The parking fees announced by City Parking on Wednesday would have seen motorists parting with $512 per day to park for eight hours while they are at work.