Published: 2 hours ago

Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has clarified that revenue generated from its parking management system can only be used for maintenance and improvements within the areas managed by its partner, Tendy Three Investments (TTI). These areas are bounded by 3rd Avenue to 15th Avenue and Lobengula Street to Samuel Parirenyatwa Street. Under the Build and Operate Transfer (BOT) agreement signed on February 18, 2022, TTI collects 70 percent of parking fees while remitting 30 percent to the council.

From January to August this year, the council received US$558,336, R140,398, Pula 8,107, and ZiG5 267,286 from the parking scheme, which covers 6,978 marked parking bays. BCC Director of Finance, Tennyson Mpunzi, explained that the funds are used to maintain parking bays and patch potholes in the city centre. He added that a portion of the funds is occasionally used to pay suppliers while waiting for disbursements from the Zimbabwe National Roads Agency (ZINARA).

Mayor David Coltart emphasized that the council cannot use the TTI funds outside the designated areas, such as in Luveve. "In terms of the agreement with TTI, we can only utilize those funds in the areas where TTI operates. We can't take those funds and use them elsewhere," Coltart said.

During the 2026 budget presentation, the acting chairperson of the Finance Committee, Councillor Dumisani Nkomo, outlined the council's proposed allocations for the year. The total budget of US$224 million will see US$70.25 million spent on water and sanitation, US$60.47 million on governance and administration, US$50.66 million on social services, US$18.9 million on roads, US$21.5 million on public safety and security, and US$2.84 million on natural resources and conservation. The budget also allocates US$7.9 million to procure computer hardware, servers, and related equipment to enhance council's digital operations, with an additional US$1.9 million earmarked for improving network connectivity in the city.

The council stressed that its budgeting and use of parking revenue adhere to legal guidance provided under the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15, Sections 189–190). The allocation ensures that funds are applied specifically to areas managed by TTI while supporting wider initiatives to improve city infrastructure, services, and digital engagement with residents.
- Sunday News