A BULAWAYO commuter omnibus operator is at loggerheads with Bulawayo City Council (BCC) accusing it of trying to wrest his vehicle away from him.
Ndabezinhle Nyoni’s kombi was impounded by the municipal police on May 7 over a parking offence.
His Toyota Hiace vehicle, registration number ADS 2037, has been kept at the council’s Khami stores since then.
Nyoni said attempts to get his vehicle back had been fruitless, with the council allegedly demanding exorbitant storage fees in what he claimed is a deliberate attempt to “steal” his car.
Nyoni said he owed the council US$610.
“I was shocked to discover that the storage fee was now US$8 310, which translates to US$360 per day,” Nyoni told Southern Eye.
“The current storage fee are 1 800% or 18 times higher than the previous storage fee, which was US$20 per day.”
Nyoni said it woulwd take years for him to settle the alleged outstanding bill, adding that he had tried to engage the council over the issue without success
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“Earning US$360 per month in Zimbabwe is a dream for many, but the council requires such an amount every day for storage,” he said.
“This has created stress for my family as there is no way we can raise such an amount.
“We have been moving from office to another in the hope of getting my vehicle back . . . the delay in releasing the car may see the storage bill surging to an extent that I give up on my property.”
Contacted for comment, council acting corporate communications officer Bomgiwe Ngwenya said she would look into the matter.
“We will revert with the response tomorrow morning,” Ngwenya said on Tuesday, but had not done so as of last night.
A number of motorists have also clashed with the municipality over its exorbitant storage fee, resulting in some losing their cars after failing to pay the required amount.
