Mon, 12 Dec 2016 12:28:05 +0000
BY KALOBWE BWALYA
LUSAKA City Council and Parkrite Zambia have suspended revenue collection from Kulima Tower, Intercity Bus Terminal, New Soweto Market and Lusaka City Market following recent protests at Civic Centre by bus drivers, call boys and vendors.
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Nation, Lusaka Town Clerk Alex Mwansa confirmed that revenue collection at the named bus stations would be suspended in view of a consultation meeting with stakeholders.
“We are only waiting to meet with other stakeholders on board so that we explain this parking system and how it will operate,” Mr Mwansa explained.
Mr Mwansa explained that the suspension of parking fees only applies to the named markets, as Parkrite would still collect fees for on-street parking in the central business district and Kamwala area.
Mr Mwansa further explained that the LCC and Parkrite had agreed on “four deliverables” in the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two parties.
“The four deliverables include central business district, such as Cairo, Cha Cha Cha, Freedom Way, and Lumumba roads including Kamwala area, which is called on-street parking infrastructure, and also there is off-street parking slots such as Shoprite, Findeco, and Natsave, and also long term off-street parking, and [bus stations] Intercity Bus Terminal, Kamwala, Kulima Tower, City Market and Soweto Market,” said Mr Mwansa.
According to Mr Mwansa, the decision to suspend parking fee collection at the named markets was reached at a meeting co-chaired by Lusaka Mayor Wilson Kalumba and PF District Chairman Stafford Kayame.
Civic leaders agreed that the implementation of parking management system in Kulima Tower, City Market, New Soweto, and Intercity Bus Terminal could lead to security risks and public disorder such as the recent protest at Civic Centre on Wednesday.
The emergency meeting also agreed that the general public needed to be informed of the decisions made by the Council while also being protected from civil unrest.
Mr Mwansa further explained that the Council has no intention of removing vendors from the streets, and denied allegations that the city was planning to sell Kulima Tower bus station to a private investor.
“The bus drivers and vendors were being misled by the car park attendants who told them that they would be removed from the streets, so they got concerned and protested,” said Mr Kayame.
Mr Kayame urged the drivers and the vendors to continue doing their business normally and not to panic as the stakeholders were still making consultations.
However, Mr Kayame expressed concern over the high car park fees, saying the five kwacha per hour was too expensive.
