Chiefs threaten national shutdown over salary dispute
‘MATHATO SEBOKA
MASERU – The Lesotho Chiefs’ Association has warned of an impending nationwide lockdown in protest over unresolved salary disagreements with the government – the planned strike could disrupt critical services, escalating tensions between traditional leaders and authorities.
The much hyped strike starts come June 9.
The chiefs are irate that the Ministry of Local Government has not settled the agreement they made with the Lesotho Workers Association (LEWA) to hike their pay.
Association secretary, Leloko Mohalenyane, said that indeed they are putting on hold, all their responsibilities as of next week Monday.
“We are halting the chiefs’ responsibilities since government has not failed to respond to the instruction they were given for our salaries’ adjustments,” Mohalenyane said.
He said that he does not see the government responding positively because even as “of today (Wednesday), the Minister of Local Government, Lebona Lephema, or Prime Minister Ntsokoane Matekane has said anything about our grievances.”
The Ministry of Local Government had committed itself before the chairperson of Social Cluster Committee on May 15, that by May 29, they would have responded to the chiefs call for a salary hike, or even given a hint on when the agreement would effected.
To date, there has been no response, the chiefs say.
The dispute, which was brought before the Directorate of Dispute Prevention and Resolution, centred on the review of allowances paid to chiefs across various categories.
The LWA had initially sought a review of those payments, arguing that the current allowances were inadequate or too low.
After few rounds of negotiations, the parties agreed to a settlement that would significantly increase in chiefs’ allowances.
On August 12, 2024, LEWA and the Ministry of Local Government reached an agreement before the DDPR to increase the chiefs’ allowances by up to 100 percent, effective on April 1.
The disbursement was supposed to be as follows: Area Chief was to be paid M10 674, Area Chief II M7 993, Chief I M5 181, Chief II 3 567 and Headman M3 001, all per month.
On May 15, LEWA penned a letter to the Social Cluster Committee to intervene, after the Ministry of Local Government failed to honour the agreement to increase the allowances of the chiefs.
The committee resolved that by May 29, the Ministry of Local Government must provide a response indicating when the salaries will be adjusted.
The total budget for the chief’s allowance was supposed to increase from M120 456 720 to M208 384 140.
