PAC to identify assets declaration director before August 8
The Public Appointments Committee (PAC) of Parliament has set August 8 2014 as a deadline for filling the new office of Director of Public Officers’ Declaration of Assets and Business Interests.
PAC chairperson Lingson Belekanyama said in an interview on Thursday his committee was under pressure to fill the positions in the directorate before the expiry of three months period after a new National Assembly is put in place as required by the law.
“We are really under pressure and we are treating this issue as a priority.
“We have given ourselves between 4th and 8th August to be through with the exercise of identifying the director and deputy director,” said Belekanyama.
According to the new Assets Declaration Law, which was enacted following concerns that the old one lacked enforcement mechanisms, the director will be responsible for enforcement, regulation and monitoring of declaration of public officers’ assets and business interests.
Every listed public officer is expected to submit his declaration to the director no later than three months after assuming his duties, or risk penalties that include fines, imprisonment, dismissal and being barred from public office for a period ranging between three to seven years.
According to Belekanyama, the office of the director has been pegged at Grade D which, according to our findings in the public service regulations, is almost equivalent to that of Supreme Court judge.
The deputy director, according to the PAC chair, will be in grade E, which is equivalent to the position of High Court judge.
“As you can see, these are very senior positions and require that those to fill them will be individuals with very high integrity and a remarkable track record,” he said.
According to Belekanyama, advertisements for the vacancy will start running today (Saturday) in both print and electronic media, including on the Parliament website.
Besides creating the office of the director, a new legal framework was put in place to promote public confidence in the public sector through curbing corrupt practices by strengthening the legal framework for declarations of assets, liabilities and business interests by certain public officers.
It supplements other oversight and accountability enforcing provisions of the Constitution, and aims to stamp out corruption in the public service by requiring that certain public officers adhere to prescribed principles of ethical conduct.
Under this law, the declarations shall be treated as public information and will be accessed upon application to the director.
Where he refuses access, he shall, within 14 days from receipt of the application, notify the requesting party in writing, stating the grounds for his refusal.
