ZANU PF youths under the Upfumi Kuvadiki (Wealth to the Youths) group have seized Easipark, a South African company which had been contracted to manage parking and towing services in Harare. The Daily News website reports that on Monday the youths raided the company premises and chased the management team away.
Speaking for the mob Alois Dakarayi was quoted as saying; This is part of the empowerment that our government has been talking about and today we have done it. This company should relocate to South Africa and leave our country alone. We now have new a company called Nehanda Holdings running this venture. He said they would be meeting the mayor to tell him of the seizure.
Dakarayi strangely said motorists in Harare should stop paying parking fees with immediate effect, until an indigenous company is contracted. This is despite him also saying their company is now running the venture and have the blessings and approval of Ministers of Local Government and Urban Development Ignatius Chombo and Youth, Indigenisation and Empowerment Saviour Kasukuwere.
SW Radio Africa spoke to Harare Mayor Muchadeyi Masunda and he confirmed the disturbances but said everything was back to normal by 11am. Masunda said they would not allow lawless elements to dictate to them how they should run council affairs.
How a South African company was contracted to run the parking system for Harare in the first place remains shrouded in controversy. ZANU PF blue-eyed boy and Town Clerk Tendai Mahachi was heavily involved in the deal, claiming 60 percent of the proceeds would go to the city, but only at the end of the year. Under the deal the city would eventually take control of the venture after 5 years.
In February this year Mahachi justified the deal saying; The strategy was to secure a partner who had, not only the modern vehicle control technology but also, and more importantly, proven expertise and experience to run parking facilities as a business venture. Mahachi also chaired the same Easipark management committee that has been chased away by ZANU PF youths.
In February the youths demonstrated at Town House and gave council 14 days to cancel the tender. Mayor Masunda defended the deal, but said the entry of Easipark affected “certain groups which have been thriving on chaos. Masunda said those protesting needed to look at resuscitating poorly performing State-owned companies instead.
“They should start with parastatals and companies such as Cairns, Astra, Tractive Power and Hwange Colliery, in which the State is the largest single shareholder, in terms of empowering the youth, women and war veterans.”
The government is currently trying to attract investors into the country, via the recently opened Euro Money Investment Conference. Questions arise as to how they hope to rebrand the country when such lawlessness by ZANU PF supporters is allowed to thrive.
Post published in: News