New prepaid parking system for Chiredzi
CHIREDZI has joined other major cities and towns in the country in introducing a prepaid vehicle parking system, in a development expected to boost revenue inflows while decongesting the sugar-growing town’s central business district.
The move by Chiredzi Town Council comes as council is battling to clear various outstanding statutory obligations with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority and over 10 months’ salary backlog to employees.
Town secretary Mr Charles Muchatukwa yesterday said council had finally rolled out prepaid parking covering nearly most of the parking space in the town’s central business district.
“We are proud to announce that we have started the prepaid parking system for all vehicles,” he said.
“This is one of the revenue collection strategies for our local authority.”
Chiredzi Residents and Ratepayers Association chairman Mr Jonathan Muusha, however, said council should make sure it reduces revenue leakages for its interventions to boost its financial position.
“We are glad that our council has managed to modernise and introduce prepaid vehicle parking, which is noble for any town in this 21st century,” he said.
“Employment opportunities have been created for locals while council will generate some of the revenue it requires.”
Mr Muusha said council should consider introducing incentives to ratepayers in the town to persuade them into paying over $10 million in outstanding rates.
“Council has dormitory houses, garages which they are leasing to the residents,” he said. “These projects must be monitored seriously so that we reduce revenue leakage.”
Mr Muusha challenged the crop of newly-elected councillors to strive to improve residents’ living standards and accountability.
“We are also expecting that the incoming council will channel more resources towards improved service delivery and uplifting hygienic standards at single quarters, tarring of major roads and the servicing of Makondo Extension residential area,” he said.
“Roads, sewer, water, refuse collection and paying council workers their arrears, good engagement with stakeholders, and promoting the open door policy to allow feedback from residents will also augur well for our town as it seeks to achieve municipal status by end of this year.”