Councillors push for50 percent pay rise

With their honoraria stagnant at K150 000 per month since 2019, ward councillors have asked for a 50 percent hike beginning the 2024/25 fiscal year, to “motivate them to be committed to their work.”

While government has acknowledged the matter and  indicated that the honoraria will be raised in the 2024/25 National Budget, it is mum on whether the whole 50 percent has been considered.

According to the Malawi Local Government Association (Malga), the demand is on account of devaluation of the kwacha and inflation, which has resulted in price hikes for goods and services.

At K150 000 per month, the government spends K 69.6 million each monthly and K835.2 million annually on ward councillors. 

The changes will see a councillor getting K225 000 per month or government spending K104.4 million a month and K1.252 billion annually.

Malga executive director Hadrod Mkandawire said to strategically reposition local government authorities as key actors towards attainment of Malawi 2063, there was need to start incentivizing council members.

He said: “Honorarium for councillors has remained stagnant since 2019 despite a number of devaluations taking place. However, that of chiefs as well as sitting allowances and honorarium for board members of statutory corporations has been revised several times.

“We propose at least a 50 percent increment in this coming financial year. This will motivate them to be committed to the cause because they will be fairly compensated for the time they dedicate to council business.”

Last year, councillors got a K1.5 million loan to buy motorbikes, but while others bought them, others preferred to get the money for other purposes or topped up to buy cars. Some used it for other purposes.

During pre-budget consultations in Mzuzu, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Simplex Chithyola Banda said they will look at all suggestions and demands when constituting the budget next budget.