Councilors should serve people not enrich themselves

A senior official from Malawi’s Ministry of Local Government has challenged all aspiring councilors for the forthcoming tripartite elections not to take up the positions with an intention to enrich themselves.

Speaking in his presentation at the on-going Malawi Electrol Commission (MEC) stringers’ training workshop in the capital, Lilongwe, Hastings Bota, Deputy Director of Local Government Services responsible for Decentralisation, said it is unfortunate that many people think being a councilor is like a full time employment.

“In the past we have had cases where a Chairperson of a council would demand sitting allowances when invited to development meetings disregarding the fact that it is their role to be there for the sake of the people they are representing,” said Bota.

Presenting a paper titled: ‘The Local Government System and Decentralization in Malawi’, Bota therefore urged the Malawi Electoral Commission stringers to remind the aspiring councilors of their role.

“Go tell them that being a councilor is mere stewardship like being a priest or a Levi…when one becomes a councilor it means they have offered themselves up to serve their people” said Bota.

Malawi is expected to hold its first tripartite elections on 20th May, 2014 where citizens are to elect the President, Members of Parliament and Councilors.