Former Zanu PF Chegutu West lawmaker Dexter Nduna has accused City Parking of misusing funds collected over the past decade for Harare’s road maintenance. Nduna alleges that City Parking has not used these funds for their intended purpose, which includes maintaining and upgrading the city’s roads. In a recent interview, he threatened legal action against City Parking to ensure the company properly utilizes the collected remittances.
Nduna stated his intention to take City Parking to court, demanding they produce records showing how they have spent the collected fees over the past ten years. He emphasized the importance of aligning business practices with the statutes governing such operations. The funds, according to him, should have been allocated for road rehabilitation, reconstruction, and maintenance as required by the Roads Act.
Nduna’s concern centers on the proper use of parking fees collected by City Parking. He believes these fees should be channeled according to the Roads Act, which mandates routine and periodic maintenance of roads. Nduna’s threat of legal action aims to compel City Parking to adhere to these regulations and ensure transparency in their operations.
A recent Commission of Inquiry into Harare’s operations revealed that City Parking operated for nearly a decade under a verbal agreement. The Ministry of Local Government disclosed that a formal agreement with City Parking was only signed in 2022, despite the company starting operations around 2012. Until then, City Parking utilized public assets without any formal record of payment.
City Parking’s managing director, Simon Muzviyo, once asserted that the company is private and not subject to public scrutiny under the Public Finance Management Act. This statement has raised questions among legislators about why the City of Harare created a private company to collect revenue from motorists. Lawmakers are concerned about the lack of transparency and accountability in City Parking’s operations.
Nduna’s threat of court action is driven by a desire to ensure that the collected funds are used for their intended purpose. He argues that the government can take over the collection of parking fees from City Parking if the company fails to comply with the regulations. This move, according to Nduna, would ensure that the funds are channeled properly and used to maintain Harare’s roads.
