The Bulawayo City Council on Sunday night raided some western suburbs, including Nketa 9, where it took away cars parked at illegal parking areas.
Scores of residents woke up this morning to find their vehicles having been taken to the council holding offices. Some of the cars were parked at shopping centres and adjacent to car parks for security reasons
“Many people woke up to find their cars gone. The cars were impounded by BCC in the middle of the night. Most of the cars were parked outside the overnight car parking areas and in front of shops. In Nketa 9, five cars were impounded. Now people have to pay to get their cars back,” said a resident.
The council is on record warning motorists of using illegal parking areas across the city. Some people running car parks in western suburbs have also complained that residents were parking their vehicles outside car parks security fences and in front of shops where there are security guards, a development that negatively affected their businesses.
Another Bulawayo resident complained to Mayor David Coltart on X:
“Hi @DavidColtart, concerned citizen here! Sat @ 1 am, BCC towed cars parked by shops in Enganwini, Nketa & Nkulumane. Was this sanctioned? If so, under what law? Nketa has only one car park, which is inadequate for half the area’s vehicles
BCC Responds
Bulawayo Cars Parked Illegally
Bulawayo City Council Impounds Cars Parked Illegally At Night [Image: Chronicle]
Sunday’s crackdown comes after repeated warnings from BCC, which has urged motorists to avoid illegal parking across the city.
Several car park operators in the western suburbs have raised complaints that residents are parking their vehicles outside secured car park fences and in front of shops with security guards, which they say has hurt their businesses.
The Bulawayo City Council explained the operation on social media:
“The exercise is done using the City of Bulawayo Clamping and Tow Away By Laws SI 220 of 2023 Section 19 Subsection 1, which states that; “Parking of motor vehicle or vehicle upon any parking place on any land or premises under the control of the Council which has been set aside for the use of any specific persons at specific times”. The City of Bulawayo urges residents to use Legal Car Parks for overnight storage of their vehicles.”
More to follow….
