Councillors split over welfare

A parallel group has emerged among ward councillors in the country with others accusing the umbrella body, Malawi Local Government Association (Malga), of failing to represent them.

The councillors said they have since formed a group called Concerned Councillors to lobby for their improved welfare.

Acting Chairperson of the group, Patricia Longwe, councillor for Kavuzi Ward in Nkhata Bay District, said the group is of the view that Malga has let them down.

Longwe said what they want is for authorities to recognise their importance just as is the case with Members of Parliament (MPs); hence, lobbying for improved welfare.

“We have seen that nothing is working out to our benefit. When we were just ushered into office, we asked for an increase in honoraria through Malga but it was turned down. We were given a loan of K1.5 million yet we asked for K5 million but it was also rebuffed. We want people, through this group, to appreciate our challenges,” she said.

She further said it was disheartening to note that MPs are getting huge salaries and loans, when councillors are the ones that shoulder huge responsibilities in their areas.

Malga Chief Executive, Charles Chunga, said he was not aware of the group but said Malga has done a lot to improve the conditions of services for the councillors

“It’s unfortunate because Malga is already doing a lot in terms of advancing issues to do with conditions of service for the councillors. What they should know is that there are processes and procedures that need to be followed when it comes to issues of conditions of service for them,” he said.

In September this year, the country’s 462 ward councillors demanded a 250 percent raise in their monthly honoraria from the current K100,000 to K350,000 among other benefits.

This was after the government had approved an increase of honoraria from K80,000 to K100,000 and a loan of K1.5 million from K1,000,000.

Currently, MPs get a loan of K50 million and a salary of not less than K1.6 million.