Malawi govt rebuffs Councillors demand for 150% honorarium hike

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Tarciscious Gowelo, has trashed councillors demands in for  a 150 percent hike in their honorarium in order to be getting a minimum of K200 000 per month from the current K80 000.

Meeting the councillors’ demands would increase the councillors’ allocation in terms of honorarium from K36.9 million to K92.4 million per month.

Mzuzu City mayor William Mkandawire, who is also Malawi Local Government Association (Malga) second vice-president, said councillors want an increase in the honorarium as “the cost of living has risen. Prices for different commodities are increasing.”

The councillors have also been demanding motor vehicle loans.

But speaking to reporters on Monday, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development said government cannot manage to disburse motor vehicle loans.

He also dismissed the increase of honorarium, saying government does not have the capacity to accommodate any honorarium increment because the 2014/15 National Budget does not have a provision for increased councillors’ honorarium.

Gowelo said the ministry will follow on what is contained in the councillor’s conditions of service.

On the reviewing of Local Government act as suggested by stakeholders, Gowelo said the ministry’s door is open for any suggestions.

Some of the demands are that they want to be administering the Constituency Development Fund a proposal which has also been trashed by the ministry, saying that MPs are a mandated to do the job under their assistance.