Mbengwi Council Workers' Salary Situation Appalling?

Ndangsa Kennedy Akam, Mayor, Mbengwi Council 

The Mbengwi Council was recently spotlighted on CRTV NW flagship debate program Press Forum during which it was revealed on the panel that workers are being owed 14 months salary.

The phenomenon is not new. Previous mayors have had same situation as a hot potato to swallow during their tenure. With the approach of 2027, a politically sensitive year as municipal and legislative elections shall take place across all subdivisions and constituencies in the country, situations like this may jeopardize one's chances of retaining their office.

As uncertainty begins to loom, the stakes of making or marring are starting to increase. While those in offices will be doing everything possible to consolidate their positions, potential aspirants from within and without the party in power, the CPDM are also bent on taking over. After all no one has monopoly of any office.

Having heard that the Mbengwi Council has been in the news for the wrong reason, we contacted the Mayor, Ndangsa Kennedy Akam for clarification. He began by admitting that truly workers are being owed arrears though for 8 months not 14 and that all this while, the council executive has been very worried and has been attempting a solution.

To him, if the workers were still being paid as before then they won't have been any issue but since he came to office, the salary situation of council workers was raised to the standards of the 2014 scale (barème) that was decree by the head of state, giving them more allowances.

_"This explains why you see that most of the council workers are not agitating"_ said the mayor _"because they know the problem is not from us"_ he added. Mayor Ndangsa disclosed that multiple attempts have been made to resolve the issue. _"We tried taking a loan from a financial institution from where workers receive their salaries but the interest rate was going to put us in more trouble"_ he disclosed.

During most of the council sessions held, deliberations have repeatedly centred on council workers' salaries. During one of such sessions, a motion was moved by the councillors empowering the mayor to apply for a loan from the Special Council Support Fund for Mutual Assistance, FEICOM.

In October 2025, a special funding agreement for the payment of salary arrears to council staff was entered into between the council and FEICOM to the tune of forty one million, two hundred and ninety six thousand, three hundred and fifty two (41.296.352) CFA Frs.

When this will be finally disbursed, then all what each council worker is owed will be cleared. The mayor ended by appreciating the council workers for their assiduity in continuing to render their services to the public unconditionally. Despite being owed that what they're due for months, they remain convinced that their labour won't go in vain, one day they'll smile.