Norton Town Council chair call for solution to refuse problem

Diana Nherera

Norton chairperson, Councillor Action Mataruse, has called for a solution to refuse collection, even if it means the council has to borrow the trucks.

Chairing a full council meeting on Tuesday at Norton Town Council, Cllr Mataruse, said the refuse situation in the town was not good.

This follows concerns over uncollected refuse and the emergence of illegal refuse dumps that were raised by councillors in Ward 13, Ward 8 and other wards in Norton.

The councillors called for alternative means of collecting refuse. Norton Town secretary, Mr Kizito Muhomba, told the full council that one of its trucks, a FAW refuse compactor developed a major breakdown.

“The type of work that is supposed to be carried out, we were thinking of going to tender as the repairs amounted to US$30 000,” he said.

“We had to write to PRAZ for us to get authority for it to be repaired at FAW, so we got the authority. So they are doing the repairs.”

Mr Muhomba said the repairs cost almost a third of the buying price of a new compactor. He said the compactor is being repaired at FAW Msasa in Harare.

Mr Muhomba said only one truck is working.

“That is why we have an outcry from residents,” he said.

Mr Muhomba said the only option is approaching the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works to hire a refuse compactor, which cost US$400 per day.

The town’s director of housing, health and community services, Mr Blessing Mutyambizi, said the second IVECO compactor is awaiting spares from South Africa.

Norton Assistant Town engineer, Engineer Kurai Baureni, also told the full council that they were assured by Bain Holland, who are repairing the IVECO compactor, that they require two weeks to undertake repairs as it had developed an unusual problem.

Director of Finance, Mr Tongai Mandude, said suppliers of the tippers are going to attend to the trucks.

“What is now outstanding is payment to service the trucks,” he said.