The president of the Chiefs Council, Chief Fortune Charumbira, told the The Zimbabwean that the monthly allowances that chiefs were getting from the government were laughable.
“Imagine chiefs are earning less than US$200 per month, an amount that even an office messenger would refuse to take,” he said.
Chief Charumbira said since of the introduction of use of multiple currencies more than two years ago, chiefs had never had an allowance increment.
“The civil servants got salary increments twice since the introduction of the use of multiple currencies, but nothing has been done for the chiefs,” he said.
The Chiefs president said they deserved better allowances as they incurred a lot of expenses while exercising their duties in their communities.
“Chiefs need money to send their children to schools and for other financial commitments,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chief Charumbira said the traditional role of chiefs was under threat from some leaders who were abandoning their roles because it was against their church beliefs.
There are reports that some traditional leaders are no long partaking in traditional functions because they said it was against their religious values and beliefs.
“Freedom of worship is a human right and we cannot force someone to change his of religious beliefs,” he said.
Post published in: News