Dear Editor
I write to appeal to President Hakainde Hichilema and the New Dawn government to consider including the position of Councillors as full time paid Civic Leaders with monthly salaries and allowances as submissions for constitutional reforms are made.
Having being in touch with reality on the ground about the work of our Councillors, it is just noble that they are fully employed and not the current situation where they are deemed to be part time yet are always busy attending to unending community issues.
Sadly, this is always happening at their expense most times, which to me is unfair. These are the first point of communication with the Members of Parliament who are on full time job, salary, government vehicles, among other emoluments.
We cannot continue over looking their input to help the running of our vast country. The three thousand kwacha allowance they are given monthly is just but a drop in the ocean, hence my appeal.
We cannot trivialize their positions because like the President, MPs, Mayors and Council Chairpersons, are equally elected into office, one argument that makes them qualify for full time civic leaders.
Let us lift the lives of our Councillors just as they are identified as Honorables in society. We cannot have them walking to Council Chambers to go and deliberate on national matters. Since our MPs and Mayors are full time, I feel the same should apply to our Councillors.
I am however cognizant of the price such an under taking comes with on the treasury, but also alive to the fact that if they are important to the running of government and implementation of government projects, they too deserve better from their government for their work.
It is my prayer that my appeal gets to our able and ever listening President Hakainde Hichilema.
Wisdom Muyunda
Chingola
