Africa-Press – Eswatini. Councillors around the country have received a hefty increment in their monthly allowances following the implementation of the Finance Circular No.1 of 2020 by the ministry of Housing and Urban Development.
The councillors will receive a 17 per cent rise in their retainer fees and between 41 per cent increment in allowances for mayors and 53 per cent for council members, while deputy mayors will receive a 43 per cent increment in their sitting allowances.
As of August 2023, mayors’ retainer fees of E4 818 have increased to E5 856, deputy mayors’ retainer fees have increased from E4 329 to E5 262 while councillors’ retainer fees have increased from E3 855 to E4 686.
Furthermore, mayors’ sitting allowances have increased from E591 per sitting to E1 000, deputy mayors’ sitting allowances have increased from E510 while councilors’ sitting allowances have increased from E423 and they will now both receive a sitting allowance of E900 per sitting.
This is according to a correspondence to town clerks and chief executive officers of local authorities seen by this publication that was signed by acting Principal Secretary Hlobisile Dlamini for review of the terms and conditions of councillors.
This has led to Mbabane businessman and ratepayer Walter Bennett questioning the timing of the increase in allowances and retainer fees for the municipal councillors by the ministry.
The businessman further questioned the decision to implement the increment in light of the ongoing economic difficulties faced by the country and wondering where the funds to implement the increase would come from.
Bennett clarified that he was not against the payment of councillors, but instead wanted them to account for the money they were paid as well as ensure that the various municipalities do make the money to pay them.
reviewed
This came after Minister Prince Simelane signed off the Finance Circular No.1 of 2020 for the review of sitting allowances and car mileage claims for all government statutory committees and or bodies.
However, a senior government official has explained that the minister only implemented the circular to bring the remuneration of councillors at par with other boards that perform a similar function, which was reviewed in 2020. He explained that this could be viewed as an increment for councillors yet that was not the case.
On another note, Bennet said the 17 per cent increase was concerning, particularly because it came at the backdrop of government offering a four per cent cost of living adjustment (CoLA) for all civil servants.
“In light of the ongoing budgetary constraints, we are now out of the blue hearing that councillors will get a 21 per cent increase in their allowances. One wonders where this money is going to come from,” wondered Bennett.
He said all other civil servants wanted more than eight per cent CoLA, but eventually settled on the four per cent. He further questioned if the councillors have shared this information with the ratepayers and the general public. He wondered who requested the award of the increment. He said councillors would now be paid allowances in the region of E6 000 following the increment of about E1 000.
“We are coming from an environment where the ministry of housing and development has been found to be fundamentally and materially wanting in their governance issues. They have clearly failed and maybe deliberately to hold councils and boards to account,” he said.
motive
He added that the increment coincided with the immediate appointment of former senior members of the ministry of housing and that brought about question marks on the motive to effect the hike. He questioned what the ratepayers were paying for if they were not involved in the approval of the councillors’ remuneration.
He said it appeared as if when one was in authority, they could direct resources towards their own benefit while questioning where the money would come from in such trying times.
He said this could potentially hamper service delivery as municipalities would struggle to come up with the budget for the increase in remuneration.
“We as ratepayers pay rates yet the municipalities are not properly run and now the ministry decides to increase councillor’s remuneration without involving the very same ratepayers who are financially strained,” he said.
He stated that at the Siteki Town Board, there was an allegation that the contractor that was engaged to construct the road ended up using government machinery to carry out the tender. He also said during cyclone Eloise in Mbabane, the informal settlements were among the areas that were most affected yet they were not assisted while there was machinery parked at Mhobodleni in Manzini that could have been used to assist the affected communities.
The businessman also mentioned that there were roads within urban boundaries that were poorly maintained yet when it came to the salaries of the staff and councilors, the ministry was quick to take action.
“The oversight function of the ministry is no longer respected because they are now colluding with the city councils and town boards. I do not understand how the minister could have authorised such an increment at this point in time,” he said. Bennett clarified that he was not against the payment of councillors or the increment of their remuneration, but maintained that if they were to be paid, their remuneration should be justified.
He said the ministry needed to protect the ratepayers and inform them on what grounds were the salaries increased in such difficult times.
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