Why should govt increase chiefs salaries when people are suffering – Sinda CCJP
By Mast Reporter
THE Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) says the planned increase of allowances for chiefs and their retainers will have no impact on poverty levels in communities.
Sinda district coordinator Bodmass Banda said in an interview the increment would only benefit the chiefs and their retainers as well as their immediate families.
Banda was commenting on President Hakainde Hichilema’s announcement last week that his government was considering to increase monthly allowances for chiefs and their retainers.
“If the government intends to increase chiefs’ salaries, then it’s creating another problem for 2026. But as CCJP we can’t accept that because chiefs are already on salaries. We contribute maize and money to take to them. We work in their fields. So, how many paying points will they have as traditional leaders?” he wondered.
Banda said CCJP did not support the decision because it was not in the interest of the public.
He recalled that chiefs were already on salary, yet village headmen used to get nothing and that if government wanted to consider traditional leaders, it should be village headmen and not chiefs.
Banda said chiefs already had many sources where they were getting money from as communities contributed cash and maize to palaces.
The fact that they were on government allowances should be enough for now.
“Chiefs have long arms that allow them to eat from different points,” he said.
Banda accused the United Party for National Development (UPND) government of trying to buy chiefs in readiness for the 2026 general elections.
He said it was unfair that currently chiefs were getting higher monthly pay than some civil servants who had worked hard to acquire university qualifications.
“Civil servants receive money only once in a month from government, but chiefs have several points of getting helped,” Banda said
“If government increases chiefs salaries, then they want to buy votes for 2026 which is not okay.”
