City Parking’s ISO Success Met With Skepticism In Harare
Harare City Parking has been awarded the prestigious ISO certification, but the announcement has sparked mixed reactions among Harare residents.
The certification, presented on 7 August 2024 to Mayor Jacob Mafume by the Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) Director General, Cosmas Mukoyi, marks the end of a four-year journey towards meeting international quality standards.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Mayor Mafume said the city would reinvest dividends from City Parking into infrastructure.
“We intend to ring-fence these dividends to ensure they go towards repairing roads and developing infrastructure in the city centre,” he stated.
City Parking board chairman, Tonderai Bhatasara, credited the success to teamwork.
“This achievement belongs to the board, management, staff, and our foot-soldiers who interact with motorists every day,” he said.
Mixed Reactions From Residents
While City Parking officials celebrated, many residents voiced frustration on social media.
One Facebook user, Kingstone Kadzviti, questioned:
“For what? Clamping cars on dusty CBD streets?”
Another, Chif Tàkà, expressed dissatisfaction over the city’s priorities.
“Looting and looting. No running water in the city, pools and potholes all over the city and you guys are busy awarding yourselves useless certificates,” they wrote.
The Harare Residents Trust, led by director Precious Shumba, attended the event alongside senior citizens and war veterans. The group has often been vocal about service delivery concerns in the city.
Management Hails Hard Work
Managing Director of City Parking, Simon Muzviyo, acknowledged the challenges in obtaining the certification.
“Today’s handover ceremony is a celebration of hard work and dedication,” he said.
Mr Bhatasara also paid tribute to the founding board and its inaugural chairman, Dr Percy Toriro, for laying the foundation.
Despite the recognition, many residents say visible improvements in parking services and infrastructure will be the true measure of success.
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The post Harare City Parking Now ISO Certified, Residents Unimpressed appeared first on iHarare News.
