Council bans use of City Hall car park

Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has banned holding of political and religious meetings at the City Hall Car Park due to security and potential risk of damage but would only be reserved for civic functions, Radio Dialogue reported.

The car park has in recent years been popular witH organisations holding a variety of functions ranging from Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo, the Zimbabwe Market Fair and the Bulawayo Ideas Festival Exhibition.

Now council is formulating a policy on alternative uses of the city hall car park and the draft document has been circulated to all departments.

Commenting on the proposed policy, Town Clerk, Middleton Nyoni said judging from interests shown by various groups and organisations, the facility could become an excellent cultural, social and business platform for the city, with the potential to be a revenue spinner for council.

The Director of Housing and Community Services Isaiah Magagula told the meeting that activities of a political nature should not be permitted at the car park.

"For security and potential damage to property reasons, his view had been that activities of a political nature should not be permitted at the car park," read part of a council report.

However, the Director of Health Services  Zanele Hwalima opposed to the use of the car park for any other activities saying  this would deprive the public of its parking space.

She said should permission for other uses be granted, the organiser should ensure that the car park was kept clean and left in a clean state at the end of the activities.

According to the report, council come up with strict conditions for the hire of the space.

"Only civic alternative uses be permitted, religious and political functions be excluded. In order to eliminate incidences of fouling of the surrounding area, the hirer shall be compelled to hire the Small City Hall at armature rates and the charge shall be factored into the fee to be determined by the City Valuer"

Council also said it shall be the duty of the hirer to ensure that the car park is in a clean state at the end of the activities. The hirer shall pay a deposit of $500 which shall be refunded on condition that the car park is in a clean state.

Since most activities are done under tents, council said in order to eliminate/minimize damage to the tarmac, the pitching of tents shall be done in consultation with the Roads Branch/Town Planning and the payment of a concomitant fee of $200 fee which shall be factored into the fee to be determined by the City Valuer.