Nkayigwa is quoted as saying politicians are now resorting to corruption and bribery because they are not paid much money. I am not saying they earn money by the buckets but we all know they are faring far much better than most in society.
Cabinet Ministers are well provided for. There is no doubt about that. Parliamentarians earn a base salary of at least P15 000, add their other allowances and you reach P20 000 with ease. Now, a good number of those have not even been to university-and in the world we live in today some university qualification is what earns you more money. Read me well, I am not saying university education means you are better, I am saying as per the standards and policies set by the politicians themselves, you need to have been at university to earn certain amounts of money-just like they do the public service.
Councilors earn a base line of at least P6000 and have their own little allowances that hike this to beyond what many graduates actually earn. And council, remember, is where the least of educated elected representatives end up. I acknowledge some are smart and some are educated. My point is the bulk majority are people who qualified by virtue of attending the most funerals - again you say attending those is a good thing for social support and I agree. But you must agree with me that the job description of a councilor is more on providing for local governance to help reduce death rates and enable people to bury their own relatives without relying on social security. So, they are doing a good job but in the process are shirking their real responsibility for what is politically expedient.
All these guys chose public office. They asked citizens to give them a chance to represent their interests. Just like they often say national athletes are volunteers, they too volunteer albeit with salaries. If they want more money, they must take cue from others who left the public service for the more lucrative private sector. It is just the way it is. If you got elected because you think it is a job then you are in the wrong area.
It is even more difficult to contemplate why councilors would demand more money at a time when their own city is not much to talk about. Many people are poor; many do not have running water and electricity still. Street lights in many parts of this city are a nightmare and recreation parks lie in desolate state. Why then do they want more money since they are neither creating money nor allocating what they have been given in a way that serves the public better?
They say because some are resorting to corruption. Well, if you resort to crime then you belong to jail. You are some of the most privileged of people in this country yet you cry for more money. How about the guy who sweeps the streets and the guy who takes care of the city sewer system, the fire fighter, the special constable and others? Some of these are not only more educated but come out as smarter than some councilors.
Bring solutions to your people. Grow this city and come up with better alternatives to generate money. If you do this, then you can get salary increments two fold. You do not justify an increase by a rise in criminal activity among politicians. Show us the impact you are having in our lives, the stress of dealing with people who cross the flow so often it has lost meaning is currently what disturbs the public yet you want more money! More money for what and on what basis? If you cannot serve the public then let those who want in not for the money take over.
