ZBC cameraman's TTI parking dispute bill rises to US$525

A PARKING dispute involving a Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) cameraman has taken a new turn after Tendy Three Investments (TTI) issued an official municipal traffic law enforcement notice showing that charges for his impounded vehicle have risen to US$525.80.

The cameraman, who was on official duty covering the King Mzilikazi Day street carnival, had his Nissan Tilda, registration number AEQ 9891, towed and impounded.

The latest notice was issued under the City of Bulawayo Clamping and Tow Away By-laws, Statutory Instrument 220 of 2023, and lists charges including clamping, towing, storage and other associated fees.

The amount represents a significant increase from an earlier handwritten notice reportedly issued to the cameraman, which showed charges of about US$235.

According to the latest official document, US$525.80 is now required before the vehicle can be released.

The cameraman had reportedly been trying to resolve the matter after the vehicle was clamped while he was carrying out his professional duties.

The earlier notice reportedly included a US$50 charge which he could have paid while seeking to resolve the alleged parking violation. However, with the vehicle remaining impounded, storage and other charges are understood to have continued accumulating.

The sharp increase has raised questions about how quickly enforcement charges can escalate and how motorists are notified when additional costs are incurred after their vehicles have been towed.

The latest notice cites Statutory Instrument 220 of 2023 as the legal basis for the towing and storage charges and states that the outstanding amount must be paid before the vehicle is released.

The dispute has also renewed calls for greater transparency in Bulawayo's parking enforcement system, particularly around the notification of motorists, the accumulation of storage charges and mechanisms for resolving disputes before costs increase substantially.

It also highlights the importance of clear communication between TTI enforcement officers and motorists, particularly in cases where drivers are present and seek to engage officers over alleged parking violations.

The cameraman maintains that he was on official duty when his vehicle was impounded.

The City of Bulawayo and TTI had not, at the time of publication, publicly responded to the specific circumstances surrounding the impoundment or the increase in the amount claimed.

The matter remains under scrutiny, with further developments expected once the relevant authorities respond.