The Public Appointments Committee (PAC) of Parliament said they will name and shame all listed public officers who are refusing to comply with the Declaration of Assets, Liabilities and Business Interests Act.
The committee’s chairperson, Joyce Chitsulo said this on Tuesday in Karonga when the parliamentary monitoring committee on declaration of assets was briefing public officers from the district council and ward councilors.
According to the act, all government officers, interns who work in the accounts and procurement departments, controlling officers and heads of sectors are required to declare their assets.
Chitsulo said: “We have noted that most public officers in district councils are not declaring their assets and some of them are from the accounts departments. Here in Karonga all ward councilors declared their assets but seven public officers did not.
This is very alarming because these are people who are trusted with handling taxpayers money and if they refuse to comply then they are stealing.”
He said by declaring assets, public officers are protected from undue suspicions, baseless or unfounded allegations of wrong doing in their discharge of official duties.
Chitsulo has since promised that PAC will name and shame all officers who are refusing to comply and push for the dismissal of thousands of listed public officers who have not declared their assets, businesses and liabilities as the law stipulates.
She further said the committee is also considering reviewing the Declaration of Assets, Liabilities and Business Interests Act in order for directors of non-governmental organisations (NGO) and officers from the accounts and procurement departments to also be declaring their assets.
On his part, acting District Commissioner for Karonga, Frank Mkandawire commended the committee for visiting the council to brief and encourage public officers and politicians to be declaring their assets as stipulated.
“Our councilors should be commended for doing what the laws require and this should be used as a good example for listed public officers who work at the council secretariat to emulate.”
“If the political arm of the council is able to do this then there should be no excuses for the officers to do the same and I would like to assure that these seven officers will declare their assets through the desk officer, said Mkandawire.
Source:Mana
