Suburban
Peter Tanyanyiwa Suburban Reporter
Senior citizens in Harare are pleading with the City of Harare to be exempted from paying parking fees or at least to be offered a discount.
The senior citizens argue that have reached a stage where they have contributed all they could to the city and are no longer earning much hence the city should consider the need to give back in recognition of their lifetime service to Harare.
The request comes at a time when the City of Harare is mulling exempting senior citizens from paying parking fees.
A resolution to that effect is expected to be passed soon with implementation commencing immediately after.
“We recently discussed the matter of exempting our senior citizens from paying parking fees and I am confident that it should be implemented anytime soon. One thing has to be clear just like on our rates discounts for the elderly, who are 65 years and above. The asset (car) has to be in the name of the senior citizen for them to enjoy the benefit,” said Ward 16 Councillor Denford Ngadziore.
Ward 19 Councillor Jacob Mafume said that residents have also been enquiring about the free parking package for senior citizens and councillors are pushing so that it becomes a reality.
“Residents have been enquiring if the city had approved that our senior citizens can have free parking in the city or at least get certain discounts and as councillors, we are pushing for this so that it becomes a reality. We believe that our elders should enjoy certain services at a discount as they would have served us in their active years so they should be rewarded,” said Cllr Mafume.
Parking fees are pegged at US$1 per hour or the equivalent in local currency at the official rate.
