More Fijians living within municipal boundaries, including in 53 villages and informal settlements, will take part in local government elections in September and are expected to pay service fees.
A big chunk of Fiji’s population living just beyond the usual city focus is set to play a more direct role in local decision-making.
Ahead of the next local government elections in September, more Fijians, including those based in 53 villages and informal settlements within municipal boundaries, will be part of the voting process, and they are also expected to pay municipal service fees.
Supervisor of Elections Ana Mataiciwa, speaking with Misryoum, said many residents may not fully grasp how municipal councils affect everyday life.. She pointed to services such as rubbish collection and drainage, along with town planning, public parks and beautification projects that shape how communities function and look.
She stressed that residents should pay attention to who is elected to their town and city councils because councillors are expected to carry neighbourhood concerns into council meetings.. In her view, that representation matters because councillors also help develop and approve policies and by-laws that influence how municipal services are delivered.
It also means the work of councils is not limited to paperwork. Councils oversee services that can quickly become visible to residents, especially when they go wrong, such as poor drainage, uncollected rubbish, neglected parks, or a noticeable decline in the appearance of towns and cities.
A key takeaway, Misryoum notes, is that voting is less about distant governance and more about who has the responsibility to respond when community issues surface.
Mataiciwa said councils provide a practical channel for residents to raise concerns and push for improvements in their communities.. She encouraged voters to read the Local Government Elections Civic Education Handbook, which Misryoum says is published by the Ministry of Local Government and distributed through municipal councils, explaining both why people should vote and how local government directly affects them.
She also pointed to accountability as a central theme for the coming election cycle. With councillors returning to office expected to face public scrutiny, those elected will need to earn confidence and demonstrate results if they want re-election.
Meanwhile, Misryoum adds that while villages will not pay municipal rates, the election-related message includes an expectation that residents in these areas will contribute through municipal service fees toward services provided within municipal boundaries.
In this context, the expansion of participation across villages and informal settlements matters because it can bring more voices into local priorities, potentially tightening the link between community needs and council action—an important shift as 2026 is shaping up to be a major electoral year in Fiji.