Gov’t approves councillors’ 6% salary increase
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday February 21, 2022 06:00
This came after the councillors put pressure on the government to increase their salaries and vowed to de-campaign Members of Parliament (MPs) in their areas for failure to approve their salary hike. Autlwetse said the adjustment was approved against the backdrop of a constrained fiscal space within which government operates. “It was therefore, not possible to adjust other allowances because part of the Ministry’s budget had to be channelled towards maintenance and construction of additional toilet facilities in our primary schools as part of governments’ response to protect children from COVID-19 pandemic. We must apologise to you, to have taken long to approve your increment.
This was due to financial constraints that we had found ourselves in. As leaders, we must be able to understand when the government has financial difficulties. Therefore, first priorities must always be the people that we represent,” Autlwetse said. Contrary to people’s assumptions, the minister said the MPs did not get an increase instead they had opted that government should not provide them with transport instead it should be replaced with an allowance. He said the government then approved the suggestion as they saved a lot since they were spending a lot in terms of overtime allowance for MPs drivers and government awarded MPs only P3,900 as transport allowance.
In addition, he said Parliament is no longer providing MPs with transport to come to Parliament like before and the vehicles had been taken to government different departments to address the issue of vehicle shortage. Commenting on the matter, the council chairperson for South East District Council, Oshima Peloewetse said the reason why the councillors were angry about the failure by the government to increase their salaries was due to communication breakdown. “The minister could have addressed us the same way as we are being addressed now. As councillors, we are not earning that much. Communication is key to everything.
Yes, we were angry because even our efforts by then, to meet the Minister were not taken seriously. We thank the minister for having taken our plea so serious and going forward let's handle issues in a respectful manner,” he said. North West District Council chairperson Kebareediste Ntsogotho said the minister must revisit the issue of sitting allowance since it is no longer necessary because of virtual meetings. “Sitting allowance was helping councillors since we are not earning that much.
If the finances improve, then we plead with the Minister to look into the issue,” Ntshogotho said. However, Autlwetse said Parliament is also holding virtual meetings and councils should continue to do so since they help to cut costs. “I don’t think the government will ever go back to old ways of holding meetings when there is the cheapest method to do that. The reason why we invested in technology is simply that we are changing to digital,” he said.