In an unexpected development, City Parking has halted its move to charge US$1 for parking, reverting to the old rate.
The announcement was made by The City of Harare on Facebook. Savanna News publishes the announcement below:
Dear MotoristsCouncil as the sole shareholder in City Parking has engaged the business unit following widespread complaints over its new parking tariff.The shareholder has shelved the utility‘s move to charge US$1or its equivalent until proper consultations are done and consensus reached.In the meantime parking revert to the old rate.
On Tuesday, City Parking announced new parking fees in United States dollars.
The new prices would have seen motorists paying US$1 per hour for on-street parking. The notice also said those intending to pay in local currency will do so at the prevailing rate which would effectively meant parking fees in local currency would change every week.
It was not clear if the same per hour charge applies for both street parking and casual parkade and car park parking, and contract parking off the street.
The news of the increase was met with outrage by Zimbabweans on Twitter.
Harare lawyer Munyaradzi Bwanya had written a letter threatening to sue City Parking.
In the letter, Bwanya says the new parking fees could see professionals who work in Harare’s Central Business District pay up to USD$160 or ZWL$10 187 per month using the current official exchange rate.
Following the latest development by City Parking to halt the increment, motorists will continue paying $20 an hour.
The same $20 an hour charge applies for both street parking and casual parkade and car park parking.
Using last month’s rate, contract parking off the street costs $1 200 a month for a reserved bay. The rates are as follows; unreserved $1 000, reserved $1 200, new or tag replacement $800 and causal $20 per hour.
It is still not clear if the City of Harare had gotten permission from the Ministry of Local Government and National Housing to set parking tariffs in United States dollars.
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