Norton Town Council LED

Introduction

Norton Town Council is implementing the Promoting Gender Inclusive Local Economic Development in Zimbabwe programme through Fisheries/Fish Production to promote local economic development and reduce poverty. The project provides an avenue for local women, men and youths to be economically empowered, and self-reliant through the fish value chain. Norton’s close proximity to Harare gives the project an alternative fish market. The long term objective of the project is hydroponics.

Norton is a small town in the province of Mashonaland West, Zimbabwe. It is located about 40 km west of Harare on the main road and railway line connecting Harare and Bulawayo. The farmlands surrounding the town produce a range of crops including tobacco, maize and wheat, and cattle rearing for the beef and dairy industries that are also an important element of the local economy. The local authority has progressed as a Centre of Excellence in gender mainstreaming since joining the programme in 2015.

Fact file

Country:

Zimbabwe

Value Chain:

Fish farming

Joined LED Programme:

2023

Number of Female Participants:

Number of Male Participants:

Number of Youth Participants:

Summit:

2024

Key Achievements

Norton fish farming is a fully registered cooperative now ready to benefit from the advantages of formalisation, for example participating in the tendering process, access financing, legal advantages.

The enterprise has got a specialised committee system which meet monthly and share their resolutions and recommendations to the management committee .

The first Council to come up with a Standard Operating Procedure Manual that took into consideration the administration, production and accounting systems to govern the enterprise.

Awards

Waste Management

Entrepreneurship runner up

Stories of change

Testimonials

"l joined this program in August 2023 where I received training on fish production starting from pond construction, handling fingerlings, feeding them, harvesting and marketing.”

Clive Kamudzanga, a young entrepreneur

“I am now able to start a business and prepare budgets.”

Bridget Gutsa, Norton Town Council entrepreneur

"The internal savings and lending scheme has enabled me to expand my business, contribute to household income, Moreover, I've managed to save $127 monthly giving me the power to take charge of my finances"

Eunice Macheka, Norton entrepreneur