GOVERNMENT has for the first time introduced salaries for councilors, mayors and district council chairpersons, Local Government and Housing Minister Emerine Kabanshi has announced.
Ms Kabanshi said in Lusaka yesterday that the introduction of salaries for the civic leaders comes after a long quest for the emoluments by councilors.
Ms Kabanshi had since signed a Statutory Instrument for the introduction of a minimum K700 monthly package for the councilors.
She said the introduction of salaries for the councilors was in line with Government’s determination to improve service delivery in Zambia.
She said the sitting allowance for the councilors had been pegged at K350.00 per sitting, while travel allowance for official duties would be at K650 per day.
She said Government valued the role played by councilors in spearheading development to the people hence the move to introduce the salaries.
“We value the councillors, we value our local authorities, they are part of the decentralisation process so the introduction of salaries is one way of motivating them,” she said.
She said Government wanted the Zambian people to own development hence empowering councilors who are responsible for interacting with the grassroots.
She said salaries for Mayors would be K1, 500 while those heading municipal councils would be receiving K1,250 while district council chairpersons and management board chairpersons would get K750.00.
And the Local Government Association of Zambia (LGAZ) expressed gratitude over the development.
LGAZ president Daniel Chisenga, who is also Lusaka Mayor, said in a separate interview in yesterday that it was gratifying to note that the Patriotic Front (PF) had in its two years in office addressed what the MMD had failed to do while in Government.
“It’s a welcome move and we must commend and appreciate the Government’s decision which to introduce the salaries, the PF knows the importance of councilors and other civic leaders,” he said.
And Kitwe’s Riverside ward councilor, Christopher Kang’ombe said the introduction of salaries reflected Government appreciation over the role played by the civic leaders.
Mr Kang’ombe said councilors were elected public servants with a clear five year mandate to initiate and coordinate national development at ward level and therefore deserved to be assisted to discharge their duties effectively.
“Councilors are the first point of contact with the community and it’s the civic leader that will easily relay a message of development to either the Member of Parliament or the responsible line ministries,” he said.
And Kalulushi’s Ngweshi ward councilor Teddy Zimba said the monthly allowance was an indication that the Patriotic Front (PF) Government had confidence in the councilors.
Mr Zimba said the councilors where in touch with the public at grass-root level and therefore an allowance would ensure that they work hard and do not engage in wrong vices.
foooolish development what is a k700 monthly salary surely? when one cannot even afford decent accommodation with that amount. even my maid and garden boys are paid k1000 monthly pay. k700 for a councilor is an insult
Dont call it foolish. Councilors already pocket 500/sitting. Imagine if the make 6 illegal sittings like the ones Oliva saasa and group made at ZRL. + this new salary???
iyo ba bwalya, the figure is just ok. most councillors have other things they do. they work , others are in business, so its a good supplement. its a civic duty too be a counsellor, its not a job. my concern, though, is that kunzankala ma out hammering each other now
Truly PF is a govt which does not respect its own laws, is K700 above the minimum wage for a staff at management level? Does this introduction of these people to salaries mean that they are not part of management, since board members are never paid salaries but allowances. Someone ought to remind PF what the correct governance structure stipulates. You cannot have a board member who is paid a salary and be paid sitting allowance, then it only makes sense that all civil servants be given sitting allowances for all those management meetings. What a style of governance is this, ba Kabashi?
Councillors are not supposed to be permanent employees. They are supposed to be civic representatives who work voluntarily. K700 is already too much especially that this money was not taken into account in the 2014 budget which was presented to parliament. Are the local authorities going to be expected to foot this bill? Obviously Not! How many councillors are there in Zambia? You must also understand that the number of districts in Zambia is increasing by the day. I foresee Chikwanda borrowing more money to pay these people. This government has become renowned for making haphazard decisions without proper planning or consultation.
They will go on strike to press for 132 000 as for their MPs
This is a leap in the right direction by the pf government.keep up pf.Iam praising u for the first time.
praising them for what?of what significance is tnis move to the economy of the country if not another drain and quadrupal the already bloated goverment payroll.muletashako ifyamano baffikkala
this is very good development we salute HE and your govenment atleast for a start,people lets giv MC Sata chance and support his policy to develop this nation and to those who are already against this gesture by this plagmatically working government,let’s ask ourselves which passed regime as ever thought of the plight of the civic leaders they were totally never planned for so well meaning Zambians let’s give this regime of Sir,MC.Sata thumb up.
In Zambia its like totalitarian regime,when did parliament approved this move,councilors are not gov’t employees,they are like board members,they are paid a sitting allowances.pf is a confused party.i hope these bloggers supporting the move are those paid by winter ,if not then Zambia is doomed in terms of development.
Where will the money come from? will it come from the already cash less councils or the central govt. If it will come from councils, did they consider each council’s ability to pay these allowances?
Lets wait and see the first strike by councillors.
Talk about more money in people’s pockets…
You can see the praises by the bootlickers!! So No New employees, No salary increments for next few years – except for poloticians& their a..ss lickers!! Nurses get fired & these good for nothing mumbwes are busy clapping!! What do you expect from a govt led by one who is a “mposa mabwe!!”
Nurses, nurses, nurses….
i thought there were employment and wage freeze
Ninshi ubuteko bwalipena ai? Minimum wage ninshi yaba pabili? Bakatupelako bwangu freedom of information twenukana pakwebati limbi fimbi twalishalila twaishibako alale!…700 e minimum yaba twenukana….
MMD started the issue of concilors to be paid monthly, it is not PF born they found it in state house and parliament. Dont even praise them they have just done MMD work not theirs. Good PF for honouring MMDs policies.
where will councils gets the money???? especially district councils. just creating problems for councils
was this money in the budget? May be we are borrowing to pay Councillors!!!!!
If this was budgeted for then HOOORAY to PF, but if we are borrowing to pay them then it is a different situation …….
Councillors in South Africa earn at least R12 000 per month.Then add allowances.They come close to R20 000.Zambia says K700 which is about R1 300 a month!Its a joke.Govt. should pay them better coz they are vital tools for development.
Iam told some are earning as high as R35 000.
Good move for a start .
Peace and Prosperity to Mother Zambia.
The woman in black she wore a top that is exposing her breasts. Have a look and see the pointed breasts in her top.
Do they work full time to be getting salaries? And this is a cash strapped government that can not afford to pay nurses.
Zambians,zambians, Zambians,you’re good at it.
Hopefully this will stop the illegal allocation of plots because in the past that was the major motivation for councilors. K 700 per month is better that K 2000 per plot because land is now finished especially in urban areas.
If that was their motivation in the past then they are in the wrong job as increasing their salary only increases the size of the bribes they will be requesting for now.
30 new DCs getting salaries now even cadres are on salaries! This is the most careless Govt in modern times. The Late Ronald Penza was on several occassions asking Mr Sata to shut up whenever he tried to comment on matters of economics during cabinet meetings. MMD were reluctant to give salaries to councillors in order not to create pressure on the treasury.
Who will meet these expenses, is it every council or central government?
U mean MULENGA SATA is a son of CHRISTINE KASEBA?