LUAPULA Province traditional leaders have appealed to President Hakainde Hichilema to increase their monthly allowances in order to meet the demand of the cost of living.
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In an interview, Provincial Council of Chiefs vice chairperson Chief Nsamba stated that the cost of living was skyrocketing everyday and chiefs were not immune to it.
In August last year, while addressing chiefs in Chiengi District, President Hichilema assured the traditional leaders that their allowances would be increased.
The Head of State also expressed regret over delays in paying chiefs’ allowances and warned ministers and political advisors that their own salaries would be withheld if they failed to ensure timely disbursements.
Chief Nsamba explained that the current allowances were inadequate and no longer matched the country’s economic realities.
“The allowances are not enough. Even retainers’ salaries are not enough to cater for their living. The cost of living is getting higher and higher everyday. Government gives us subsidies not salaries. And our subjects think that we get a lot of money,” he said.
“The government gives us something yes but it is not enough. We have been waiting for the pronouncement that the president promised us last year. The cost of living is skyrocketing every now and then. Traditional leaders are not exceptional from the high cost of living. This is why we have been asking government to look into our plight.”
He stated that traditional leaders had declined being placed on the government payroll in order to preserve their hereditary roles and avoid being subjected to retirement conditions.
“We refused to be put on government payroll because we never wanted to retire. We were going to be given conditions of service. We are traditional leaders, some of us are matrilineal and some of us are patrilineal. So in that way, there is no way we can accept to be put on government payroll,” said the leader.
By Catherine Pule in Mansa, Luapula Province
Kalemba, August 20, 2025
