Harare Launches Fully Digital, Self-Service Parking as Smart-City Vision Takes Shape

Harare introduces fully digital, self-service parking from 1 December, replacing manual marshals with automated payments as part of its smart-city modernization drive (image source)

Harare’s motoring landscape is set for a major shift following City Parking’s announcement that it will introduce a fully digital, self-service parking system in selected parts of the capital beginning 1 December. The transition marks one of the most significant steps in the city’s digital transformation agenda, signalling a drive toward smarter, automated, and more efficient urban infrastructure.

According to a public notice issued on Monday, the company will roll out unmanned parking zones in key segments of the city centre, replacing the long-standing human-marshal model with a digital payments system. The first pilot streets include portions of 3rd Street between Jason Moyo Avenue and Robert Mugabe Road, as well as sections of Park Street between Jason Moyo Avenue and Samora Machel Avenue.

Under the new system, motorists will no longer interact with physical parking marshals. All fees will be paid digitally through mobile or online platforms—a move City Parking says will bring greater transparency, consistency, and improved service delivery. The modernisation forms part of a broader strategy to integrate automation and artificial intelligence into parking operations. “These changes aim to enhance operational efficiency and improve the overall parking experience through the use of artificial intelligence and automation,” the company said.

The rollout aligns with global smart-city trends in which digital parking services reduce congestion, curb corruption, standardise payments, and minimise billing disputes. Harare has been gradually shifting toward cashless solutions, including EcoCash USD acceptance and online payment options. The new system advances that journey toward full automation.

Reactions from motorists have been mixed. Many welcome the convenience, but others—particularly elderly drivers and users unfamiliar with digital platforms—express concerns about accessibility and potential confusion during early adoption. City Parking has urged cooperation and says support personnel will be available on-site during the initial phase.

Urban development analysts say the upgrade is overdue. Harare’s manual parking model has long attracted criticism for inconsistent enforcement, inefficiencies, and confrontations between marshals and drivers. Automation, they argue, could significantly reduce revenue leakages, depersonalise enforcement, and improve data collection for urban planning. The rollout also comes amid renewed public debate over parking fees, clamping procedures, and towing charges—issues that have fuelled tension in recent years.

If successful, the pilot will expand to other parts of the CBD and eventually into commercial zones beyond the city centre. For Harare, the move represents more than a technological upgrade; it is a key step toward building a modern, efficient urban ecosystem capable of supporting a growing population.

As the 1 December launch approaches, motorists are preparing to enter a new era—one where parking is cashless, unmanned, and increasingly intelligent. For a city long burdened by outdated infrastructure, the shift may offer a preview of the future of urban mobility in Zimbabwe.