Balaka District Council direct staff demonstrates over unpaid dues

Direct staff for Balaka District Council on Thursday demonstrated against their superiors, demanding the Council to stop ill-treating them and consider paying their two months salaries.

The demonstrators who included ground labourers and market fee collectors accused the Council’s Chief Accountant, Martha Kabambe for being responsible for their suffering, saying each time  they come for discussions pertaining their pay, she handles them harshly.

“We want the Chief Accountant to be transferred from Balaka. She doesn’t have the welfare for poor people at heart. She answers us as if we want to steal from the Council.

“This is not the first time that she has done that. She did the same last time, and we are tired of her attitude. All we want is our money. Nothing else,” said one of the demonstrators who sought anonymity.

“The Council has sold land at Manika and as of now people are building. How can it be possible that they can’t remember to pay our salaries?”

“We are equally important people and we need to be treated as an important arm of the Council,” he said.

On her part, Kabambe said the Council is struggling financially.

“Our labour force surpasses the revenue we collect per month. That is why we are facing these challenges,” she said.