Prominance Sinomusa Khumalo
In trying to pacify the restive motoring public of the City of Kings and Queens, the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) and its contracted parking management partner, Tendy Three Investments (TTI), the two entities have responded to concerns that have left city dwellers utmost livid.
A visit to TTI offices situated at second floor of a building at corner Fife Street and 11th Avenue, will surely witness angry motorists armed with wanton threats.
Its a daily feature at these offices to find drivers ranging from the elderly, the sick, pregnant, foreign visitors, company drivers and individuals who would be complaining of the army style of the operations by the city parking management company, TTI.
Last week, this publication had to restrain a motorist who wanted to vent his anger on any staff member of TTI after he had been clamped on an unmarked parking slot.
It is from these complaints that TTI and BCC have taken joint action.
TTI’s Managing Director Lizwe Mabuza, said that the following measures have been agreed upon to streamline parking management and enforcement in the City of Bulawayo.
The Call Centre number for quick responses will be made visible on all tickets issued by TTI personnel. This is aimed at improving visibility.
Mabuza went on to state that there soon will be faster response times for appeals, especially for the elderly, sick, or disabled people.
The partners, TTI and BCC will work hand in glove to identify more emergency parking bays near medical facilities and make them available as soon as possible. At the inception of the parking management system, all parking bays along the City’s Health facilities such as Galen House, Corporate 24, Lancet Building were all turned into paid parking bays.
On the military attitude worn by the TTI clamping staff, Mabuza said that,
“TTI employees will undergo refresher courses and further training to reinforce and instill good customer care and inculcate the spirit of Ubuntu.”
To ensure that senior citizens are aware of their rights, BCC will review their internal processes for acquiring carriageway exemption discs.
A long suggested measure by this publication, TTI and BCC has finally agreed to embark on a joint educational campaign to ensure that the public is better informed about the City of Bulawayo’s (Clamping and Tow Away By Laws, SI 220 of 2023).
The said By-laws were gazetted and published without public knowledge, hence many motorists have found themselves in the wrong for a slightest mistake of parking onto a white line even for a mere five centimeters.
Another issue that has irritated motorists is the clamping of unpaid tickets. TTI has never informed motorists that if they amass tickets as low as US$5 they will be clamped without warning.
Previously, when the BCC managed its parking, there would issue a ticket to warn motorists if impending clamping. It is different with TTI who will clamp and inconvenience a motorist for a mere US$5.
TTI has become the most hated entity in the City of Kings and Queens. It is for these reasons that the partners are trying to reorganize these measures so that residents of Bulawayo can expect to see improvements in the management of parking enforcement and a greater consideration of their needs and circumstances.
Mabuza emphasized their aim, that of TTI and BCC, are to ensure that parking management and enforcement is fair and equitable for all motorists.
“The aim is to make parking in Bulawayo more convenient and stress-free for everyone.”
A motorist who was engaged by this reporter on the above measures responded,
“As long as the parking fees, clamping fees are still high, there is absolutely nothing that has been done. These fees are just too much.
How did they come up with such fees? Who allowed them in the first place?
“Mntanami, EGoli, parking is R10 per four hours. Why is ours $1 per hour. This is madness.” Fumed the motorist.
It is true, many motorists are not against the parking management system, but against the charges.
For example, a motorist who has been clamped for not settling tickets of say US$6, will have to pay the ticketed amount as well as US$20 unclamping fee.
Once a car has been toured, it attracts a fine of US$120 plus storage fees of US$30 a day.
To many, the City Fathers have found themselves a money spinning scheme thus fleecing the citizenry of their hard earned cash.
Zim GBC News©2024