Malawi lawmakers support Assets Declaration Bill
Members of Parliament have strongly agreed on the need for the country to have the Public Officers (Declaration of Asset, Liabilities and Business interest) Bill for the country to win the fight against fraud and corruption.
The Bill which calls for public officers including the President and the Vice President to publicly declare their assets and liabilities once adopted will help in ensuring that people accumulates wealth in a rightful and proper manner.
Goodall Gondwe, Member of Parliament for Mzimba North said, the bill once implemented will help to reshape and restructure the country and also improve management of public resources.
“The bill is important because it will guide management of resources by civil servants and everyone holding a public post.
“Once we have the bill, we don’t expect to have the cash gate issues because people will be aware of the consequences of accumulating money in a dubious manner,” explained Gondwe hoping that the bill will also clear the mess that Malawi is in at the moment.
Halima Daudi, Minister of Environment and Climate Change said the declaration bill will apart from fighting corruption improve transparency and accountability.
“This bill is timely and if implemented assist will improve delivery of services in the public sector and also change the mindset of those in higher offices,” Daudi said.
Member of Chitipa North, Nick Masebo who also chairs the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said having the Bill in place it will be easy for the committee to force leaders to declare their assets.
“Let me confirm that as PAC we have had problems in asking leaders to declare their assets there was no legal backing.
“I’m happy today that we are debating on the legislature that will give the committee powers and act according to its mandate,” Masebo said.
