ZAPD Inspectors held an engagement meeting with management at East Park Mall to discuss possible ways of curbing the abuse of parking spaces reserved for Persons with disabilities at the shopping center.
Findings after an inspection revealed that parking spaces reserved for Persons with disabilities are being abused mostly out of ignorance by motorists and security officers manning the car parks.
In the meeting with management and security officers, ZAPD Director Inspectorate Bornface Tumba sensitized the team on issues of accessibility and the importance of the reserved parking lots to persons with disabilities.
Mr. Tumba further referred to Cabinet Circular No. 30 which gives specifics required for making public infrastructure accessible.
The Persons with Disabilities Act No. ^ of 2012 criminalizes the use of parking spaces designated for persons with disabilities by persons without disabilities.
Section 45 (3) provides that a person who, not being entitled to park in a parking place designates or demarcated for parking vehicles used by persons with disabilities, parks a motor vehicle in a place reserved for the exclusive use of a Person with a disability, commits an offence and is liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding two hundred thousand penalty units or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or both.”