Norton residents to demonstrate against poor service delivery today

Police have cleared today’s demonstration by the Norton Residents’ Development Trust against poor service delivery by the local authority.

The residents are accusing the town council of stifling development projects, defying ministerial directives and blocking construction of a mortuary at Norton District Hospital. The residents want Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere to intervene and help address some of their grievances.

This is not the first time Norton residents have protested against the local authority, accusing councillors of pursuing their own interests at the expense of service delivery. In December 2014, residents grilled the councillors for awarding themselves hefty travel allowances at a time council employees had gone for several months without salaries. Council chairperson, Precious Mufahove, confirmed then that councillors were receiving $1 500 each for a single trip, but blamed residents for failing to pay rates, resulting in cashflow problems.