Fury As Bulawayo City Council Impounds Cars Parked Illegally At Night

Residents are incensed after the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) conducted a surprise operation on Sunday night and impounded cars parked illegally.

BCC raided vehicles in several western suburbs, including Nketa 9. Many residents awoke this morning to find their cars had been seized and relocated to council holding areas, prompting frustration among vehicle owners who now face fees to retrieve them.

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Bulawayo City Council Impounds Cars Parked Illegally At Night

The operation targeted vehicles left outside designated parking areas, such as at shopping centres and near car parks, which some residents had chosen for added security.

One resident spoke to B-Metro and revealed what happened:

“Many people woke up to find their cars gone. The cars were impounded by BCC in the middle of the night. Most of the cars were parked outside the overnight car parking areas and in front of shops. In Nketa 9, five cars were impounded. Now people have to pay to get their cars back.”

Another Bulawayo resident complained to Mayor David Coltart on X:

“Hi @DavidColtart, concerned citizen here! Sat @ 1 am, BCC towed cars parked by shops in Enganwini, Nketa & Nkulumane. Was this sanctioned? If so, under what law? Nketa has only one car park, which is inadequate for half the area’s vehicles!”

BCC Responds

Bulawayo Cars Parked Illegally — *Bulawayo City Council Impounds Cars Parked Illegally At Night [Image: Chronicle]*

Sunday’s crackdown comes after repeated warnings from BCC, which has urged motorists to avoid illegal parking across the city.

Several car park operators in the western suburbs have raised complaints that residents are parking their vehicles outside secured car park fences and in front of shops with security guards, which they say has hurt their businesses.

The Bulawayo City Council explained the operation on social media:

“The exercise is done using the City of Bulawayo Clamping and Tow Away By Laws SI 220 of 2023 Section 19 Subsection 1, which states that; “Parking of motor vehicle or vehicle upon any parking place on any land or premises under the control of the Council which has been set aside for the use of any specific persons at specific times”. The City of Bulawayo urges residents to use Legal Car Parks for overnight storage of their vehicles.”

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