COUNCILLORS PETITION GOVT OVER LOANS

Several councillors on Tuesday stormed Chief Secretary to the Government George Mkondiwa’s office with a petition demanding President Peter Mutharika’s intervention on the K1 million motorcycle loans they were promised as they assumed office.

The ward representatives also complained of lack of funding to councils for the month of June.

The councillors were led by Malawi Local Government Authority (Malga) president, Samson Chaziya, who said the motorcycle loan issue has been ongoing for too long and councillors are wondering why government is delaying to keep its word as per the councillors’ working conditions.

Said Chaziya: “One year after our election into office, we have not been provided with the loans. The issue remains outstanding despite several efforts by Malga to engage the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, National Local Government Finance Committee as well as Treasury.”

In his response, Mkondiwa, however, wondered how the loan funds would be recovered considering that councillors do not earn a salary, but a monthly honorarium of K80 000, saying: “I will deliver this petition to the Head of State as per your wish, but I wish you had exhausted all the channels to resolve this matter.”

Public relations officer for Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Mughabase Mughogho said the K1 million motorcycle loans were designed to be recovered from the honoraria, which councillors receive over a period of four years with 10 percent interest