Lizwe Mabuza, the owner of the company managing Bulawayo’s parking services, made headlines after arriving at City Hall on Thursday in a US$400,000 Rolls Royce Cullinan.
According to *ZimLive*, the luxury car, which appeared to be newly imported, featured a personalized UK license plate believed to have belonged to the previous owner.
Mabuza is the chairman of Tendy Tree Investments (TTI), the firm responsible for collecting parking fees in Bulawayo. TTI retains 70% of the revenue from parking, clamping, and storage fees, while the City of Bulawayo receives the remaining 30%.
Between January and May 2024, TTI contributed over US$1.5 million to the city’s coffers, meaning the company’s share was significantly higher than the city’s portion.
Mabuza’s ostentatious display of wealth has stirred controversy, with many Bulawayo residents calling for the cancellation of TTI’s parking contract. The six-year deal, which started in January 2022, was awarded in 2020 but took two years to come into effect.
City officials were reportedly taken aback by Mabuza’s extravagant vehicle, with some describing it as “tone-deaf” given the growing public calls for a review of the parking contract. One councillor told *ZimLive*, “It’s us as councillors who are keeping the mob at bay for now. TTI has become the most unpopular company in the city, and Mabuza’s display of wealth is only adding fuel to the fire.”
Rumors also suggest that TTI’s influence runs deep within City Hall, with some council members allegedly working in the company’s favor. TTI first sparked public outrage when it set parking fees at US$1 for just 30 minutes in the Central Business District (CBD), which led to strong protests. The company eventually lowered the rate to US$1 for an hour of parking.
Despite this adjustment, TTI continues to face criticism over the way its employees treat the public, with many residents accusing them of mistreating elderly people and using heavy-handed tactics to meet revenue targets.
Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart had pledged to review the TTI contract during his election campaign, but has since remained largely silent on the issue.
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