Ministry raises councillors’ perks
The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has adjusted upwards councillors allowances from K80 000 to K100 000, reflecting a 25 percent increase.
Councillors, through Malawi Local Government Association (Malga), submitted a petition to the ministry in June 2018 asking for an increment due to the high cost of living in the country.
In a circular signed by the ministry’s Principal Secretary Kiswell Dakamau dated December 4 2018 and addressed to all district commissioners, the adjustment is with effect from July 1 2018, meaning the councillors will get paid in arrears.
The letter said the approval has been made on the consideration that each council will contribute 20 percent from its locally generated revenues and the balance will be covered from the General Resource Fund (GRF).
Last week, government also announced an increment in chiefs’ honorarium, also effective from July 1 2018.
With the increment, paramount chiefs will be getting K100 000 from K50 000, senior chiefs K60 000 from K30 000, sub-chiefs K18 000 from K9 000, group village heads K5 000 from K2 500 while village heads will be getting K5 000 from K2 500.
