Government disburses K800m for chiefs

The Malawi Government has released K832 million to pay chiefs arrears accrued between July to December 2018 which is part of the new perks for traditional leaders.

In July 2018, the Malawi Government increased chiefs’ honoraria with 100%. The new rates were effected in January this year.

In an interview, spokesperson for the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Muhlabase Mughogho, confirmed the development.  

She said: “Government has funded the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development with K832 million in order to pay chiefs their arrears accrued between July and December, 2018.”

Mughogho added that the chiefs’ pay parade exercise began on April 16, 2019, in Mchinji District.  From Wednesday, 17th April 2019, chiefs in Nsanje, Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Mzimba, Mangochi, Nkhotakota, Salima and Blantyre have also started receiving their arrears.

This exercise targets 42,000 chiefs across the country.