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MANZINI - As their term of office is coming to an end, some constituency councillors are decrying that their welfare has not been prioritised.
(bucopho)
The outcry emanates from the fact that some of them have not been receiving monthly sitting allowances, among others. The concerns were raised during a get-together for the constituency councillors, which took place at Sidvokodvo Riders’ Ranch on Saturday.
Worth noting is that bucopho usually receive constituency allowances of E989 at the end of the month.
Allowances
According to Madlangampisi Bucopho Steven Mavundla, some of them were not receiving their sitting allowances despite having attended constituency meetings that take place every Tuesdays. Mavundla added that another thorn in the flesh was the issue of gratuity.
“Government introduced that constituency councillors who have won in the previous election are not entitled to gratuity. This is concerning and questionable, because that person’s contract of five years has elapsed and they have signed a new contract,” he quipped.
The bucopho was of the notion that this was an unfair practice. On the issue of some of the bucopho not getting claims, he said the challenge could be with constituency clerks who were working with the shortage of resources such as carbon paper. As a result, he said they could not work properly.
Mavundla elaborated on the issue of car allowances. He mentioned that the minister of Tinkhundla Administration and Development was engaged and a meeting with the Royal Commission was convened on this issue. He said the bucopho were responsible for visiting homesteads in constituencies, going from door to door. Nonetheless, he said they were not given car allowances, despite that they were the first to be contacted when there were cases of emergencies.
Despite all these challenges, the bucopho said they ensured that constituents got help.
“It is clear that this term is coming
Gogo to an end without the bucopho being compensated. They (bucopho) even sacrificed with their medical aid by opting out of the high benefit medical aid and receiving it in cash, so that they could purchase their import vehicles,” Mavundla said.
Benefit
The constituency councillor said the money amounted to E2 400 and it was received on a monthly basis. However, he noted that some did not opt out of the high benefit.
In terms of the law, bucopho are the individual councillors who represent their respective chiefdoms at constituency level.
Their core responsibilities include being a development and service delivery link between the constituency committee and chiefdom, collaborate and work closely with bandlancane
(inner council) in promoting community development projects in the chiefdom and oversee the implementation of all community projects funded through grants or loans from the national government and compile reports.
Furthermore, bucopho provide general assistance to members of the community to access facilities, funds and information which they may from time to time need from inkhundla. On the other hand, indvuna yenkhundla
is an elected head of the inkhundla
authority and is responsible and accountable to bucopho and the regional administrator for administrative and policy parameters. Indvuna yenkhundla
becomes the chair of the inkhundla, with core responsibilities such as presiding in all official meetings, supervising the work of bucopho in the respective chiefdoms and ensuring that decisions are implemented.
In addition, indvuna yenkhundla regularly updates chiefs at the inkhundla, of all social and economic development programmes and projects implemented, ensure the preparation and implementation of development plans and attend meetings at chiefdoms as and when necessary.
Comment
When drawn for comment, Minister of Tinkhundla Administration and Development David ‘Cruiser’ Ngcamphalala, said bucopho were crucial people who worked diligently and assisted in the development of constituencies. On the issue of car allowances, he said a committee was elected to represent them on their issues. Minister Ngcamphalala highlighted that the committee met with the royal commission to submit their concerns.
“We are awaiting a response from the royal commission and we are hopeful that following their submissions, action will be taken, because bucopho are one of the key players in the Tinkhundla System,” the minister said.
He hoped that they would be considered for car allowances. Further, Minister Ngcamphalala mentioned that there could be issues with submissions of claims from regions as a result of delays.
He said the delays were caused by issues which he could not divulge on.