Group temporarily  paralyses Easipark

Easipark parking operations in a move described by city officials as reminiscent of a “smash and grab” operation.
Easipark parking marshals retur-ned to the streets around lunchtime after Mayor Muchadeyi Masunda announced that a truce had been reached.
Earlier, members of the Upfumi Ku-vadiki had been rounded by police, but were later released without being char-ged. This was after the youths besie-ged Easipark offices at the Julius Nye-rere Way Parkade and shut out the firm’s workers.
Easipark is a joint venture between Harare City Council and EasiHold of South Africa. Earlier, the youths had told Easipark parking marshals in the streets to stop working.
Mr Masunda said he would meet a delegation from Upfumi Kuvadiki to-day to discuss submissions contained in a petition served on him last month.
“The matter has since been resolved following the intervention of the law enforcement agents (Zimbabwe Repu-blic Police) and my discussion with Minister Saviour Kasukuwere.
“I have agreed to meet with the delegation from Upfumi Kuvadiki tomo-rrow (today) afternoon to review the submissions contained in the petition they lodged with the City of Harare last month,” he said.
Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere confirmed discussing the matter with Mr Masunda.
“I spoke to him on the phone and told him to resolve the issue. He will meet the youths at 1600hrs tomorrow (today),” he said.
However, Mr Masunda said the disruption of legitimate and bona-fide business operations within Greater Harare should not be condoned.
“We have a moral obligation to provide a secure future for the unsustainably large number of able-bodied and literate young Zimbabweans,” said Mr Masunda.
Upfumi Kuvadiki spokesman Mr Al-son Darikayi who was present at the Easipark offices at the Julius Nyerere Way Parkade, which had been blocked by the youths, said a new company Nehanda Parking was ready to take over parking management in Harare.
He threatened that marshals of Nehanda Parking whose directors are still a guarded secret are expected on the streets today.
Officials from Upfumi Kuvadiki confirmed the development yesterday.
“(Mayor Muchadeyi) Masunda can discuss the legal implications with EasiHold. We have a consortium of eight young people who have formed Neha-nda Parking. We can not divulge their names yet,” said Mr Darikayi.
He said the youth organisation add-ressed Easipark workers at around 0630hrs and impressed upon them not to report for duty yesterday.
He said the workers agreed with the youth group and complained of poor remuneration and failure by Easipark to pay them.
A Harare City official and Easipark management committee member Mr Alois Masepe described the action by Upfumi Kuvadiki as illegal.
He said there were a number of business opportunities in Harare that the youths could participate in if they approach the city.
“They should come to council and negotiate. This is not a smash and grab affair. Council will avail facilities to those with resources,” he said.
Mr Masepe said since 1980 council has been on the forefront of promoting indigenisation through such deliberate policies as flea markets, home industries and people’s markets which are predominantly occupied by locals.
In a letter dated 18 February 2011 Minister Kasukuwere implored town clerk Dr Tendai Mahachi to ensure the joint venture deal complied with the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act.
He said earlier communication requesting that Dr Mahachi submits the IDG-01 form specifying the shareholding structure had not been heeded.

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