BULAWAYO City Council (BCC) has turned down a request from the police for free use of the City-Hall car park for the launch of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) client service charter, but gave the law enforcement agency, a 50% rebate instead.
BY NQOBANI NDLOVU
The council usually charges $500, excluding value added tax, for use of the City Hall car park.
The police, in a letter dated October 16, applied to the local authority pleading for free use of the City Hall car park on November 5, the date for the launch of the ZRP client service charter.
The letter was from the Bulawayo ZRP provincial community relations officer.
Latest minutes of the council general purposes committee report reveal that the local authority turned down the request, but gave the police a 50% rebate.
“It was resolved to recommend that the request by ZRP for free use of the City Hall car park on November 5, 2015 be not acceded to in view of financial constraints. Instead, the organisation be offered a 50% rebate on the relevant charges for this facility,” part of the council minutes read.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
The minutes, however, reveal that the council general purposes committee gave a go-ahead to Ingutsheni Hospital and provincial public director of the Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, to hold Mental Health Day and World Habitat Day commemorations at its City Hall car park for free.
The committee argued the two events were important, hence, granting authority for free use of its facilities.
The police, in their letter to council, had promised to ensure that “the confines will be returned to their pristine state. We will also conduct our business in a serene manner, ensuring that we won’t disturb business at the City Hall”.
“This prestigious police event is to be launched on November 5, 2015. Our intended route is to begin at Ross Camp and proceed through the City Centre along Leopold Takawira, culminating in the car park of the Large City Hall.
“In this regard, we humbly appeal to the civic fathers and the town clerk’s office for permission to utilise the car park for free starting from 8am to 2pm on the above-mentioned date,” the minutes read.
During the launch of the ZRP service charter in Harare in August, Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri said the police sought to meet public expectations through improved service delivery and accountability.
