Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Three Civil Society Organizations have written to the Attorney General demanding that all public officials subject to the Parliamentary and Ministerial Code of Conduct comply fully with all the requirements of section 10 within 14 days.
Section 10 (2) of the code of conduct states that an officer shall within thirty days after his appointment; and within thirty days after each anniversary of his appointment to the office concerned; submit to the Chief Justice an annual declaration of assets, liabilities and income.
The three CSOs namely Alliance for Community Action, Chapter One Foundation and Transparency International Zambia have warned that in the event that any of the public officials fail to comply fully, they will write to the Chief Justice to set up a tribunal to investigate whether the officials in question are in breach of the code of conduct.
In a statement signed on behalf of the three CSO’s, Alliance for Community Action Executive Director Laura Miti states that if such a tribunal is convened and it finds that the public officials are in breach, the public officials may criminal and /or administrative action.
Ms Miti says they are concerned that most of the public officials that are required to adhere to the provisions of section 10 of the parliamentary and ministerial code of conduct have failed to do so.
She states that it’s in the public’s interest to have full disclosure of the public official’s financial position throughout their stay in office.
Ms Miti adds that full declaration of assets and liabilities is important for routine public finance accountability monitoring by civil society and the public.