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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Matabeleland South Bureau Chief

MOTORISTS in Gwanda are up in arms with the municipality over an announced pre-paid parking system which has been introduced in the mining town.

Gwanda Municipality introduced a prepaid parking system in November last year before it was later suspended early this year.

However, three weeks ago, the local authority reactivated the prepaid parking system without first engaging motorists who had expressed their concern.

The council is charging US$1 per hour for prepaid parking and failure to pay within four days attracts US$4 penalty.

A local motorist, Mr Simanga Nyathi said the municipality should have alerted motorists of the new development.

“I was surprised to find a ticket on my car after I had left it parked in the town centre. I was not aware that the prepaid parking system had been reactivated and when I asked around, fellow motorists were equally shocked,” he said.

Mr Nyathi said the municipality introduced prepaid parking last year and sent a notice to motorists but a few months later it stopped the system.

Another motorist, Mr Brilliant Tshuma said there is a need for council to first install prepaid parking metres before introducing the system.

He noted that the town has no visible parking bays. Mr Tshuma said taxis have also turned those parking spaces into their pick up and drop off zones.

He said vendors are also utilising the parking spaces to sell their wares.

“The local authority has to put in place proper systems before charging us for parking. The town does not have proper demarcated parking bays. Cars just park either horizontally or vertically in the same area,” he said.

“Taxi operators have turned some of these parking byas into their pick up and drop off points. If we are going to pay for parking, then we have to pay for a good service.”

Gwanda mayor, Cllr Njabulo Siziba said the reactivation of the prepaid parking system is based on the communication that was made to the public last year.

Cllr Siziba said the suspension of the prepaid parking system did not translate to abandoning the system.

He said the municipality is yet to address the issue of parking metres and parking markings.
“The prepaid parking is a charge for parking in the town centre. We are not charging motorists for wrong parking since we have not yet done proper markings.

Taxis have a designated pick up and drop off point, which we have allocated them although some resort to undesignated points,” Cllr Siziba.

He urged motorists to comply with the prepaid parking system, saying it is part of generating revenue for the local authority, which will help improve service delivery. — @DubeMatutu.