Councillor forced out of DPP over demand for pay hike: Claims receiving threats
Ward councillor Alexander Cosmas, who is the leader of the group calling itself ‘Malawi Concerned Councillors’, demanding an immediate 200 percent increase in their monthly honoraria and allowances, has been forced out of the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and claims he is receiving threats to his life.
Cosmas warned that the concerned councillor will hold protests if their demands are ignored.
The group is demanding that their monthly honoraria should be increased from K100 000 to K350 000 each, translating to K161 million for 462 councillors.
But Cosmas said he has since been receiving threats from party officials.
“I am living dangerously and cannot continue serving DPP,” he said.
He said the party has been irked with his stand that his grouping would partner with various stakeholders like HRDC [Human Rights Defenders Coalition] and others so that their work conditions are improved.
“We must state here that all is set for us to hold national demonstrations if we are not attended to,” Cosmas said.
Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development spokesperson Muhlabase Mughogho described the grouping pushing for the raise in perks as illegal.
Besides the monthly honoraria, the councillors also want fuel allowance raised from K40 000 to K150 000 per month to ease their mobility in their respective wards.
The concerned councillors also want their motorcycle loans increased from K1.5 million to K5.2 million to enable them buy durable motorcycles to take them through a five-year term.
The councillors are also asking for K30 000 monthly airtime, K50 000 ward allowance and that each of them should be on a K60 000 medical scheme.
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MP’s should also be removed as nawonso make selfish demands. amapanga zomwezi zopusa ndi zodzikondazi koma zimaoneka kuti amaopedwa paja amaopseza zopanga boycot parliamentary proceedings. Let them boycot but do not pay them, ndalama zathu zizitupa!
This is the height of foolishness and greed. 1) Did the councillor not know the conditions that awaited him at the time of his campaign? 2) Does he not know that elected office is “voluntary” service not employment and quite different from appointed office which is employment. He cannot therefore engage in collective bargaining, he is not an employee. 3) Does his ward have the funds to sustain these ridiculous demands? Likely not, so pray tell where is this outlandish budget going to magically come from? 4) What performance measurement KPI are the councillors willing to be subjected to in… Read more »
That point out of order.If you are employed does not mean you can not cry for your salary hire.
Correct and to the point. The same applies to MPs. Do you know that when parliament is meeting all civil servants at parliament also get allowances? What for when they are doing their normal work? Thieves all of them, thieves.
These foolish people want to get pa I’d more than the workers in our government sectors who work a lot. You councillors are mad and idiots. What job do you do if I may know. CDF and LDF funds are being misused because of your stupidity and foolishness. I nu ma councillors ndinu zitotso ndithu
Mr Cosmas ,ngati mukuona kuti ndalama zachepa,tulani pansi udindowo sakani china chochita kuti mabvuto anu achepe koma mukalimbana ndi anthu andale mudzanongóneza bondo . ndale sizifuna anthu odzikonda ngati inu .
Ihhhh koma ku Malawi, ma salary, ma allowance and ma honoraria ongopakana. When will this improve? Ena azolowera mavuto sakuwonapo argument pazomwe Cosmas akunena. It’s very pathetic. This country needs to jack up.
What is the difference between a councillor and an MP?
If your job doesn’t pay you well, leave. If your employer cannot afford to sustain your incentives, just resign. After all, those are taxpayers money meant to improve the welfare of the general citizenry. Thump down honourable Ward Councillor.
Malawi does not need ward councillors in her political structure. Review the Local Govt Act to scrap ward councillors’ position.
The late Bingu (May he RIP) ignored ward councillors. People advocate for ward councillors but they cannot fund their operations. They always give unnecessary pressure to our local councils. Ward Councillors are a thorn in the fresh.
Chiefs have demanded their pay rise and they got it. MPs are dancing in the gravy train. So why not councillors?? It’s only fair.
Ziphanani mxxxi
So you want to be perking more that a teacher with a degree, who wakes up early morning and reports for work at 7am and knocks off 4pm every day? Better be serious.
Why useless MPs some of whom dont even have first degrees get more than University Lectures or Hads of Departments who have got better qualifications plus work extremely hard????
They want salary not allowance/ honoraria. Let them join civil service with the type of education they have and they will realize they are already receiving more than most civil servants. This is unrealistic demand