By Chisomo Phiri
Minister of Local Government, Culture, and Unity Honourable Richard Chimwendo Banda has urged police officers who are deployed to do patrols in various places of the country’s cities to stop demanding huge amount of allowances.
Speaking at the Blantyre City Council Summit held on Wednesday at Mount Soche Hotel in the commercial city of Blantyre, Banda said the police officers should not demand such huge amount of allowances for patrols as this is their duty as police officers to make sure that the security is always tight everywhere in the country.
Said Banda:”This is your duty as police officers to make sure that security is always tight everywhere. So why demanding huge allowances when assigned to do patrols in our cities
The Minister said the act is also costing the councils a lot of money which could have been used for other important projects such as city roads construction among others.
He said for instance, other city councils are spending K20 million a month to settle the allowances.
” I don’t say demanding allowances is not that good but at least the amount should be minimal. Why demanding K20,000 or K30,000 for patrols a day. Through this we are losing a lot of money.
” I feel like K5,000 or something below K10,000 is enough for allowance. These allowances are meant for food ( lunch allowances) so why up to K20,000. Let’s think twice on this if we are to develop our cities, ” said the Minister.
The Blantyre City Summit was firt ever summit which brought in together delegates from various corporate institutions discussing matters that will lead to the council becoming livable, safe, and vibrant.
Precisely, the focus of the City Summit initiative was on waste management, urban security, and street vending among others.
Its concept is a brainchild of the former Minister for Local Government, Culture and Unity Honourable Blessings Chinsinga.
Similar Summit will also be held in Lilongwe, Zomba, and Mzuzu cities within a few weeks to come.
