| Golden handshake for local government councilors | Send to a friend |
| Friday, 18 June 2010 08:53 |
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Councillors have all the reason to smile as the government has resolved to pay them a golden handshake after completion of their five years of service later this year. The decision was announced in the Parliament yesterday by the Prime Minister, Mr Mizengo Pinda, when reacting to a question. He said the government will make sure that the money to pay the councillors will be made available through the 2010/11 budget. However, he did not say how much would be needed for the purpose or the amount each councillor would be paid. So far Members of Parliament are the only political leaders who were entitled to the terminal benefits after completion of their service. “I will check with the Finance and Economic Affairs minister to find out if the money is available, but I would like to assure the councillors of this money… we will do all we can to ensure that they are paid,” he emphasised. He made the remark in response to the main question from Mr George Lubeleje (Mpwapwa - CCM) during the PM’s question and answer session in Parliament yesterday. The MP wanted to know whether the government would pay retirement benefits to the ward councillors. Mr Pinda also told the Parliament that people who will lose or damage their voters registration cards prior to the October General Election would be allowed to vote. He said such voters would be allowed to vote only if they report to authorities and prove that they lost their cards or they have been damaged. Mr Pinda said he was sure that the decision to allow those who lost their cards to vote would not bring any inconvenience since their details were recorded and are in a data bank. “No one will be denied his or her basic right of voting simply because his or her card is lost… they will be allowed to vote if they report the incident to the police and prove to the National Election Commission,” Mr Pinda said. The Prime Minister was responding to a supplementary question from the Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) MP, Ms Lucy Owenya, during the spontaneous questions to PM session yesterday. Ms Owenya sought to know the fate of those who have lost their voters registration cards after they had updated their details. Premier Pinda also said he will direct the NEC to take into consideration those who have lost their voting cards during its exercise to update particulars of people who have shifted from areas where they were registered. Last week the Prime Minister directed NEC to update details of voters who have shifted from places in which they were registered to vote. The move aimed at enabling most students of higher learning institutions, who updated their details while still at their institutions, to get a chance to vote, now that they are on leave. Meanwhile, Mr Pinda said the government was not planning to include village and street chairpersons in its payroll due to lack of funds. However, he said, the government has directed district councils to pay allowances to the grassroots leaders from their budgets. He said this in response to a supplementary question asked by Dr Binilith Mahenge (Makete - CCM). Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites           |
