Dowa District Council sealed

Dowa District Council’s junior workers have closed offices of District Commissioner, Fannie Msimuko in protest against low salaries which are not matching cost of living.

According to one of the revenue collectors James Msamba they have been sending letters to the DC since 2014 but she does not respond.

“The revenue collectors, watchmen and cleaners claim that they have been receiving K16, 000 per month which is against the minimum government wage bill of K25, 000,” said Msamba.

The angry staff said they will open the offices once the council raises their wages by 20 percent.

However, in one of the previous full council meetings, the Council’s Finance and Works Service Committee Chair, Councilor Simeon Nyemba, appealed to the council members to re-visit the direct employees’ salaries for them to perform better in line with the council’s services.

“The council’s staff stay two to three months without receiving their salaries; a development which is negatively affecting their everyday problems saying they have families and relatives to look after,” said Nyemba.

In 2015/16 financial year, Dowa District Council was the highest in revenue collections of all the councils in Malawi.