“K11,500 is Not Enough” – Senior Chief Mwamba Laments Rising Cost of Living
Senior Chief Mwamba has questioned why government ministers and members of parliament receive far higher pay than traditional leaders, arguing that the K11,500 monthly allowance for senior chiefs is inadequate in today’s economy.
Speaking in an emotional appeal, the traditional leader said the cost of living has eroded the value of their stipend, making it difficult for chiefs to meet both household and community obligations.
“We only get K11,500. Why are we being taken for granted? A long time ago, chiefs were respected. Why should ministers and MPs be respected more than chiefs when we are the ones who elected them? Ministers are given houses and cars but we chiefs are not respected,” Chief Mwamba complained.
He noted that in the past, people in the community willingly worked for chiefs without expecting payment, but today things have changed.
“They say that we get paid a lot of money so why should they work for us. But these people don’t know that the money we get is too little. And we also have people who seek monetary help from us. We have funerals and other activities, all these we help using our money,” he explained.
The Chief’s cry comes at a time when the cost of living has skyrocketed across Zambia, meaning that even a senior chief’s salary can quickly disappear when faced with community obligations.
Ironically, Chief Mwamba is not just an ordinary Zambian struggling to get by. He owns land, farms, livestock cows, goats, and chickens and has an official palace. Yet, despite these assets, the Chief still finds it difficult to manage on K11,500. His plea highlights how inflation and rising costs are biting into every household, whether rural or urban, privileged or ordinary.
“We applied that our allowances be increased but it’s been quiet. At first they told us they will do so once they finished building chiefs’ palaces but it’s been quiet,” he said.
The Chief further expressed shock that members of parliament and ministers are held in higher regard than chiefs, despite the fact that traditional leaders interact more directly and frequently with their people.
©️ KUMWESU | August 22, 2025
Credit; Kalemba
I blame education here.The chief can’t differentiate between himself and a member of parliament. He thinks they are on the same level and do the same job.They should educate him.Infact 11k is too much they where supposed to be given K2000.He is a greedy man. He looks like a Congolese this one…check him
Chiefs are being paid enough for just being there. These are jobs for life. In fact government should make the subjects of each tribe responsible for the remuneration of their chiefs. In that way, we will bring quick reform to this feudal institution called chiefdom because subjects will demand appropriate behaviour from chiefs in return for paying them.
You as a chief should be thankful you were even given a salary you don’t deserve! You should use your land to earn a living. Where have seen things remaining cheap from 1964? Where do you expect the government to get extra money to increase your stipend. You got used to brown envelopes. MPs enact laws that is there job. The amount of money you get paid is more than enough. There’s a lot of well educated young men and women who are not even getting that much. Zambian has a small economy to afford huge salaries. You are complaining and yet you don’t even pay tax. Your a chief who’s also a burden on the economy. You should have heard when the president at one time said he gets paid K50 000.00 per month. If the president is entitled to K50K per month. hen it’s likely you are getting more than the president, and not working for your money. You have adjust your expenditure and also start growing some of the food for consumption. Please get a grip!
Kanabesa please! How I wish your highness would not demean your status by being dependent on government handouts. Where is our dignity?
The government is building palaces for chiefs (big mistake), has provided vehicles to chiefs (another big mistake) and gives them hefty allowances (yet another big mistake).
Kanabesa, if you become so dependent on the government, you will lose the authority to criticise when they go wrong. Let us learn something from our Tonga friends whom we mock. We should ask them to teach us how to keep cattle. Then we can use the cattle for ploughing instead of the back breaking and inefficient hoes.
I get upset when my brother Indigo Tyrol mocks our friends. Let’s bring them closer and learn one or two things from them. The cousinship with the Lozis is a step in the right direction.
Then Senior Chief Mwamba would not have to suffer the indignity of seeking a raise from the government. Ituna has so much potential! Chishimba falls is such a wonderful place waiting to be unveiled.