Online Reporter
Diana Nherera
Herald Reporter
NORTON Town Council has complied with the central Government’s directive for local authorities to reduce fees for some of their services.
In her 2026 budget presentation last week, the finance committee chairperson, Cllr Moyana, said Central Government had issued a directive to reduce licensing and administration fees by 50 percent and to keep all licensing fees below US$500.
“Council has complied with the directive and also reduced administration fees to $20,” she said.
Turning to achievements recorded by the council, Cllr Moyana said these include Calfa market, completion of the second block at Norton Secondary School, sprucing up Ngoni Stadium to meet PSL standards in partnership with MWOS FC and an excavator.
Cllr Moyana, however, noted that revenue collection levels from ratepayers and stakeholders for rates and services remain subdued.
“The presence of dysfunctional settlements continues to affect council revenue collection efforts,” she said.
“Proposal for regularisation is still under review. We hope for improved revenue collection once these are regularised.”
Cllr Moyana said Norton experienced challenges in getting approval for its 2026 procurement plan.
“This affected spending in our capital budgets as budget disbursements awaited approval of the procurement plan,” she said.
“In addition, devolution funds were not disbursed this year, affecting key WASH projects such as sewer rehabilitation.
“However, we are hopeful that the disbursements will be done promptly in the 2026 budget.”
Cllr Moyana said Norton is still facing challenges in the provision of water and sewerage services, given the fact that potable water is supplied by the City of Harare and the supply is intermittent.
“Council is now working with the University of Zimbabwe on a water treatment study for Norton,” she said.
“The water treatment plant feasibility will unlock the much-needed funding from the investor community to construct the water treatment plant.”
Cllr Moyana said in the current year they had employed various strategies to enhance revenue collection, which include joint revenue collection blitz between programme managers and council police, engagement with residents and ratepayers through budget review meetings and letters of demand.
“We also used water disconnections to prompt payments, litigation of outstanding debtors,” she said.
In terms of the town’s masterplan, Cllr Moyana said they are still waiting for its approval by central Government.
“The masterplan was completed in 2024 and submitted to the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works for approval within the stipulated Call to Action deadline of June 30 2024,” she said.
