By Wezzie Gausi:
Local councils in Malawi have come under scrutiny for poor compliance with asset declaration requirements, making them some of the worst-performing institutions in this area.
The Office of the Director of Public Officers’ Declarations (Odpod) has revealed a drop in compliance rates among councils for the 2023-24 period.
According to Odpod Director Michael Chiusiwa, only five percent of local councils achieved full 100 percent compliance in declaring assets, a decline from nine percent recorded in the previous period.
Chiusiwa said that Lilongwe District Council was the poorest performer, with only 56 percent of its officers fulfilling the legal obligation to declare their assets.
“Listed public officers (LPOs) within local councils constitute 10 percent of the total LPOs in the country. However, their compliance rates remain disproportionately low compared to other government entities.
“This sharp decline in compliance was attributed to the attrition and frequent transfers of desk officers responsible for overseeing the declarations, which disrupted coordination during the collection period.
“The frequent transfers of officers tasked with managing asset declarations compromised the process. However, this should not be used as an excuse for non-compliance,” Chiusiwa said.
Parliamentary Committee on Public Appointments Chairperson Grant Hassan Ndecha criticised the councils for their purported laxity.
He dismissed the justification regarding officer transfers as unacceptable.
“This is a sad development and must be condemned. Public officers must be open and transparent by declaring their assets. Transfers cannot be used as an excuse for failing to fulfil this legal obligation,” Ndecha said.
Malawi Local Government Association Executive Director Hadrod Mkandawire requested more time to comment.
Asset declaration is seed as a critical tool in promoting accountability and combating corruption within public institutions.
The Public Officers (Declaration of Assets, Liabilities, and Business Interests) Act requires all designated officers to declare their assets upon assuming office, every three years and upon leaving office.
Stakeholders are now calling for stricter enforcement of the law and improved internal systems within councils to ensure higher compliance.
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