Councillors deserve better remuneration  

Wed, 23 Nov 2016 11:31:30 +0000

COUNCILLORS deserve a better and reasonable salary to stop them from engaging in corrupt activities as a means of survival, says losing Chingola Rainbow party Twatasha Ward candidate Joseph Kangwa.

Mr Kangwa said demands from councillors for a salary were justifiable because they were the eyes of the Government.

He said it was the duty of the Government to source money to pay councillors so that they did not engage in corrupt activities such as illegal allocation of land.

Mr Kangwa alleged that councillors were at times caught up in a web of corrupt practices as means of survival, saying it would be fair if they were given decent salaries to earn their living.

“I think the councillors are right in calling for salaries although the 2017 budget does not cater for that because they (councillors) are the eyes of the Government and are found in the grassroots office of the Government,” he said.

He said councillors were some of the leaders that faced many challenges in the execution of the duties and the residents expected a lot of help from them because Members of Parliament rarely visited all the areas in their constituencies.

“Therefore, it will be prudent to give councillors reasonable incomes in order to stop them from engaging in corruption,” he said.

Mr Kangwa said as much as the country was facing an economic crisis, resources could still be sourced to ensure councillors were paid salaries as opposed to K700 monthly allowance.

He said it was unfair to subject the civic leaders to a meagre allowance when they did a lot of work in the communities they served.

“The K700 monthly allowance entitlement to councillors is not enough because they also have families and yet the work in the community is highly demanding,” he said