Zanu PF resource mobilisation and revenue generation chairperson, Dexter Nduna, has ordered Harare and Bulawayo councils to terminate contracts with parking firms to pave way for his company to take over the operations.
Nduna, earlier this year, announced the creation of a company named Team Chapter, claiming that it will be solely responsible for parking in Harare as a source of revenue for the ruling Zanu PF party.
However, legal experts yesterday questioned Nduna’s source of power for him to issue directives to the municipalities.
In letters addressed to Harare and Bulawayo town clerks, Nduna said he was pushing to take over control of the two cities’ parking activities because their companies were not remitting funds for road rehabilitation, claims that have been refuted by the firms.
“My name is Dexter Nduna and I write to you humbly requesting you to take steps to terminate whatever agreement you have with the private company City Park (Private) Limited, which is currently collecting parking fees in the Harare CBD [central business district] and its environs,” he said in his letter addressed to Harare town clerk.
“The said private company is not remitting the monies which are public funds for the intended purpose of road maintenance to the ministry of transport.
“I have written to the said company armed with section 62 of the Constitution on the rights of access to information, but the response from them was very negative and have maintained that they can’t be accountable on these funds since they are a private company.”
Added Nduna: “This has left me with no option, but to request your office to co-ordinate with the National Eye Security Company in the collection and remittance of the 100% parking fees to yourself and the Ministry of Transport for the purpose of road infrastructure development which is its primary purpose.”
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He said Harare was collecting at least US$1 million per day according to the more than 100 000 parking spaces in Harare at a minimum of US$10 per each parking space daily.
“This money, if left in the wrong hands as is currently the case, could be used to sponsor terrorism and opposition politics to unseat a legitimate government,” the former legislator said.
In his letter to Bulawayo town clerk, Nduna accused Tendy Three Investments of failing to remit collected funds to the local authority.
Harare mayor Jacob Mafume, who is also a lawyer, scoffed at Nduna’s directive saying it lacked legal merit.
“We receive a lot of letters from individuals after they go to night school and learn a few more words,” Mafume quipped.
Bulawayo mayor David Coltart said: “I will discuss the issue with town clerk.”
Zanu PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa was not picking calls.
However, legal expert Aaron Hamauswa said Nduna had no powers to direct the termination of existing contracts between city councils and private firms.
“Nduna’s recent directive to Harare and Bulawayo city councils, demanding the termination of existing parking contracts in favour of his company, National Eye Security Company, is a blatant overreach of his authority.
“While it is commendable that he is concerned about the misuse of public funds, his approach is both unlawful and unethical.
“Nduna appears to be acting on his own behalf, without any clear mandate or authorisation from the government.”
Hamauswa also said Nduna’s claim that he was acting according to the Constitution of Zimbabwe was misleading.
“This section grants individuals the right to access information held by public bodies, not the authority to dictate their operations,” he said.
“Nduna’s allegation that the current parking companies are misusing public funds is unsubstantiated. While there may be legitimate concerns about accountability and transparency, it is essential to provide concrete evidence to support such serious claims.
“Without such evidence, Nduna’s accusations are merely baseless allegations that could damage the reputations of these companies.”
He said Nduna’s attempt to seize control of parking operations in Harare and Bulawayo was a clear conflict of interest.
“His claim that the money collected from parking fees could be used to ‘sponsor terrorism and opposition politics’ is a serious allegation that should be investigated by the appropriate authorities, not taken at face value by a single individual,” he said.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa appointed Nduna to lead resource mobilisation for the ruling party targeting mining, agriculture and other business enterprises in July this year.
