Chiefs demand better pay

They want all headmen to earn salaries of M10 000 per month. That is a 560 percent bump on their current salaries.

Above the headman is the village chief who currently earns M1 817. They want the village chiefs to earn M15 000 per month, which is a hike of 726 percent.

The village chief answers to a senior chief overseeing a cluster of villages and currently earns M3 421 per month. They want that salary bumped to M20 000 which is an increment of 482 percent.

The senior chief answers to an area or ward chief, who currently earns M4 053. They want the area or ward chief to earn M25 000, an increase of 516 percent.

These demands are contained in a letter sent by their trade union, the Lesotho Workers Association (LEWA), to the Minister of Local Government and Chieftainship Lebona Lephema.

The letter was sent in June.

The chiefs, who have requested a consultative meeting for a review of their salaries, said Lephema’s predecessor, Moshe Leoma, left office without resolving their salary issue.

The LEWA Secretary General, Hlalefang Seoaholimo, said there are “problems countrywide in the manner in which chiefs are paid”.

“It is with sadness and heartfelt expression that we make this submission,” the letter partly reads.

LEWA said for years it has been watching with dismay how chiefs have been underpaid.

The union said most households were battling economic hardships after the Covid-19 pandemic.

LEWA says the basic needs of a household, including children’s transport to and from school, access to public health services, prepaid electricity, school fees, clothing, rental, and insurance cost about M6 627.

“It is not and will not be in dispute between the parties that those few mentioned items are direct cost of employees which are the workers basic needs,” the letter reads.

The letter says the situation compels LEWA to invoke the 1970 International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention which states that “the elements to be taken into consideration in determining the level of minimum wage shall…include (a) the needs of workers and their families”.

“Basic needs of workers and their families has to be established and thereafter comparison be made (sic),” the letter reads.

The letter says in the proposal workers’ basic needs have been established “with the understanding or consideration of our country’s level of economic and social development, including the views of social partners”.

“The listed basic needs of workers as per the above table has been quantified as to how much is the direct cost of a worker and this exercise was done based on the accurate and true figures that apply in the country.”

The union says the proposed salary hike will promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.

The union says the ILO views “the most important asset for people living in poverty (as) the potential of their own labour”.

“Their capacity to work productively, decent work for all, including social protection, is therefore the main route out of poverty for individuals, communities and countries.”

Some of the chiefs say the government has not been fully supporting their official jobs, let alone their wellbeing as people and families.

Chief Tumisang Seeiso, on behalf of Matelile chiefs, told Prime Minister Sam Matekane during the launch of the newly built Tsoaing Bridge last Friday that they do not have stationery to do their work on a daily basis.

“So bad is the situation that we grab exercise books from our school-going children and use them as stationery for our offices,” Chief Seeiso said.

“Our children no longer have exercise books because of us,” he said.

“This is not sitting well with us.”

Chief Seeiso said “it is a disgrace and a disappointment to be a chief because we literally have nothing”.

He said the title of chief no longer carries any dignity as they are starving.

“We fail to buy just an apple as we do our daily job.”

Chief Seeiso said their salaries are pathetic.

Chief Seeiso said meagre salaries “push some of the chiefs into acts of wrongdoing because they accept bribes from wrongdoers”.

“We turn to (ignore) what is right because of hunger. We do not want to commit crimes,” he said.

He said their children are unable to go to school and those who can afford to send their children to school are those whose fathers left the country to look for better fortunes elsewhere.

He complained that there are some chiefs who do not earn any salaries or allowances at all.

“They do not earn even a cent,” he said.

Chiefs, he said, are not part of people who receive food donations because they are considered working and earning a salary.

“We are starving,” he said.

Matekane told the chiefs who had gathered in a hall in Matelile that he was aware of their grievances.

He pledged to buy some stationery for them from his personal coffers while waiting for the government to respond to their grievances.

Chieftainess ’Mamarothole Ramarothole of Likhoele, Ha-Ramarothole in Mafeteng, said their biggest concern is stationery.

She said this is a longstanding problem that frustrates their everyday activities in the office.

In the past, they used to use their own stationery to assist their subjects.

“We have run out of our own stationery now,” Chieftainess Ramarothole said.

Faced with this crisis, they had asked people to bring their own stationery so that they can assist them.

However, it seems that some people are not happy with the decision.

Chieftainess Ramarothole said they earn little allowances that are also taxable.

She said they are left with little allowances to sustain their livelihoods.

Because she does not have an office, she has to sit under a tree to assist her people.

 

But it becomes a bit challenging during bad weather because she needs some shelter to execute her duties.

Chief Lekoko Mohalenyane of Nazareth Ha-Mohalenyane told thepost that they are still using the Chieftainship Act of 1968 that has never been amended.

He said the Act no longer responds to today’s needs.

“There is nothing as (embarrassing) as being called a chief,” Chief Mohalenyane said.

“We have to be presentable as we stand before the people,” Chief Mohalenyane said, adding that they earn very little allowances.

He said they have been tasked to look after the needy and vulnerable people in their respective villages while they themselves are needy and vulnerable.

Chief Mohalenyane said the law states that they are the first police officers and protectors in their villages.

“We are at risk because gun-toting people usually attack and kill chiefs,” he said.

He cited the case of Chief Moeketsi Mohohlo of Taung, Ha-Mohohlo in Mohale’s Hoek who was shot dead last month on the King’s Birthday by unknown gunmen who disappeared in the darkness.

His two murderers have not been arrested to date.

“Chiefs are usually killed because they are defenceless,” Chief Mohalenyane said, adding that the criminals know for sure that they do not have guns to protect themselves.

Chief Mohalenyane said they have to sometimes use their own houses to do their official work especially during bad weather.

He said their privacy as chiefs is exposed because people have to come to their homes and sometimes see what was not meant for their eyes.

“We do not have space to keep people’s records and files,” Chief Mohalenyane said.

There are 22 principal chiefs and two ward chiefs in the Senate who report directly to the King. The total number of other lower chiefs is said to be slightly over 4 000.

 

Majara Molupe