Harare City Council fleecing poor cyclists
As more Zimbabweans turn to cycling in their commute to work, Harare City Council has seen an opportunity to improve their dwindling revenues by charging cyclists licencing fees.
The move has attracted criticism from Zimbabweans of all walks of life who feel the capital city shouldn’t have been allowed to do that, given transport woes in the capital and the Covid-19 pandemic.
The city has introduced licence fees of $1 250 Zimbabwean dollars (US$15) annually for bicycles and $1 310 Zimbabwean dollars (US$17) for tricycles.
“There is just inadequate transport to take people like me to work, so I had turned to my bicycle,” said Danai Mapurisana Mapurisana, a 47-year-old.
Even schoolchildren like Denis Chihwai, 17, have turned to bicycles so they don’t miss classes.
Cyclists like Mapurisana and Chihwai say that the fees were beyond their reach.
“I work as a security guard and I have not been paid for more than four months now. My employer says he does not have the money as clients are taking longer to pay for our services,” Mapurisana said.
It’s even worse for Chihwai whose school fees are paid by well-wishers.
“I live with someone not related to me,” said Chihwayi, because my parents died.”
“The bicycle I got was donated to me, so, how do I go back to the same donor to ask them to pay for the licence fee as well? It’s going to be hard,” he added.
A street vendor, Nobert Gwande, 26, said that he had turned to his trusted bicycle in absence of adequate public transport.
“I have no choice but use my bicycle as public transport is not adequate.
Ironically, many politicians like former Energy Minister Fortune Chasi, have encouraged people to use cheaper modes of transport like bicycles and motor-bikes, “to save fuel”.
“Yet, they gave Harare City Council the nod to enforce licences on poor cyclists!” quipped a Harare businessman who preferred to remain anonymous.
–— Anadolu News.
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