Local government minister Winston Chitando has approved an increase in councillors’ monthly allowances from less than ZWL$113 000 (US$7) to ZWL$1 358 255 (US$80).
The increases will be backdated to January 2024.
In a circular dated 27 February 27, 2024,signed by Chitando, mayors and council chairpersons will now earn ZWL$1 629 906 while deputy mayors/chairpersons’ allowances were pegged at ZWL$1 494 081. Committee chairpersons now pocket ZWL$1 412 585 per month.
But most councilors interviewed rubbished the increases saying they were an ‘insult’ considering the amount of work that they do and the distances travelled in their respective wards.
“This is an insult, surely, how can the minister approve allowances that are less than US$100 with all the work that councillors do?”said a councillor based in Chinhoyi.
