Outrage as Zimbabwean MPs Get Free Parking in Harare CBD
Zimbabweans are furious after the government granted Members of Parliament (MPs) free parking in Harare’s central business district (CBD). Under the new arrangement, each legislator can register two vehicles that will be exempt from parking fees.
Special Agreement With City Parking
Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda recently announced that Parliament had reached an exclusive agreement with Harare City Council’s City Parking, allowing MPs to enjoy free parking in the CBD.
“I also wish to inform the House that the Administration of Parliament has reached an agreement with the City Parking, to exempt two vehicles belonging to each of the Members of Parliament from paying parking fees in the Harare Central Business District,” Mudenda said.
Also read: Zinara Introduces Tollgate Express Lanes: No Fees, No Waiting in Line for Exempt Vehicles
How MPs Will Benefit
To qualify, MPs must provide proof of ownership for the two vehicles they wish to register. Mudenda instructed:
“You are therefore requested to submit copies of registration of the two vehicles to the Human Capital Department in office No. 340 on the Third Floor in order to finalise the arrangements.”
The announcement sparked widespread disapproval among Zimbabweans, who feel that MPs should not be receiving such privileges while the citizens they represent continue to struggle.
Many took to social media to express their outrage:
@charambazezai:
So being in Parliament is just about MPs and not those that they represent right. They should be the last to get All these privileges after fighting for the disadvantaged in society like the disabled and the elderly . Nxaaa
@TTMambeu:
When you have a different set of rules for a certain group of people in the same country then you must know it’s a banana republic. The councillors will ask for the same favor. Saaaaaad!
@eskay897:
These MPs are supposed to be representatives of the poor, needy & impoverished masses, yet all we hear about is how busy they are negotiating for car loans, free fuel, free parking, free housing etc for themselves. Tsvee kugadzira nekuita advocate for citizen-centric laws argh????
@tidzo:
These are the things that make it hard for these guys to fight for the people. There shouldn’t be two tiers of law. Everyone shld experience the same Zimbabwe otherwise things won’t improve.
@Thembichunga:
People responsible for imposing punitive taxes on the people exempt themselves from these taxes. Duty free cars, toll free roads and now free parking. This my people is why we get unfair laws coming from this body. They don’t represent us.
Chris Matambanadzo
Coming from a long line of television and radio personalities, it was only natural for Chris Matambanadzo to venture into the media space. Chris is an avid reader who fancies himself a philosopher and poet. He is passionate about anime, music and movies.
Chris Matambanadzo
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