More than 1,000 civil servants failed to declare their assets for the 2022-23 reporting period, The Malawi Government Gazette, dated December 13, 2024, indicates.
The gazette shows that 167 officers from the Department of Immigration and 553 police officers and many more councillors, head teachers and finance officers or bursars from public schools did not submit their asset declaration documents, raising concerns over compliance with the law.
There are others, too, from State-owned organisations, including from the Malawi Revenue Authority and Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi, who also have not declared their assets.
The majority of employees from public universities have also failed to declare their assets.
The gazette further lists diplomats posted at foreign missions and high-ranking officials from various ministries, including the Ministry of Finance, among those who failed to comply.
In the gazette, Malawi Congress Party leader and State President Lazarus Chakwera, former State president and Democratic Progressive Party leader Peter Mutharika, People’s Party president Joyce Banda and the-then United Democratic Front president Lilian Patel have declared their assets.
The gazette further indicates that almost all members of Parliament have declared their assets except for Nick Masebo, who, according to the gazette, failed to declare his assets because of illness.
Government spokesperson Moses Kunkuyu said they promote transparency and accountability, hence they support laws that call for declaration of assets.
On his part, Public Appointments Committee (Pac) of Parliament Chairperson Grant Ndecha said the committee has already summoned some of the officers that have not complied with the law.
“The constitution and the Assets Declaration law give powers to the Committee to monitor the functions and powers of the Director of Public Officers’ Declarations.
“By neglecting to submit their declarations, these officials not only breach legal requirements but also send a harmful message that adherence to the law is optional. They are weakening the integrity of the public service and contributing to a lack of
The Director of Public Officers’ Declarations Michael Chiusiwa said his office is conducting the due process, as required by law, on the same, after which the appropriate action would be taken, including possible referrals to Pac (as the monitoring committee) of Parliament or make recommendations for sanctions, as the case may be.
“Referrals to the committee would be part of the committee’s statutory monitoring function on the declarations regime,” he said.
He said the Constitution and the Assets Declaration law give powers to the committee to monitor the functions and powers of the Director of Public Officers’ Declarations.
National Advocacy Platform Chairperson Benedicto Kondowe said failure to declare assets for the 2022-23 financial year or reporting period raised accountability questions.
“The purpose of the Act is to ensure transparency and accountability within the public sector by making it difficult for public officials to amass wealth through illicit and corrupt means. In that way, there will be public confidence in the public service, including public servants themselves. People won’t doubt the source of their wealth,” Kondowe said
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