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PP slams parties’ assets declaration

Kalilani: I have to check the draft
Kalilani: I have to check the draft

The People’s Party (PP) has described the proposed requirement for political parties to declare their assets after registration as unnecessary.

The party has likened it to mixing wood from the forest.

The Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD) has proposed that the Political Party Act should, among others, demand that political parties declare their assets upon registration.

The Act is expected to be in effect before 2014 and will affect all political parties in the country.

Giving his party’s reaction to the proposal, PP secretary general Henry Chibwana said in an interview yesterday it was not necessary.

He said: “This is the most interesting development honestly. It is like mixing wood from the forest.”

Chibwana said CMD should have concentrated on the declaration of assets for individual leaders and not parties.

However, United Democratic Front (UDF) publicity secretary Ken Ndanga welcomed the idea.

He said the legal frameworks establishing political parties need to be reviewed in line with democratic principles.

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) secretary general Jean Kalilani said she needed to see the draft first before commenting.

The assets declaration has been a hot issue after President Joyce Banda refused to declare her assets upon becoming President, arguing that she already did so when she became Vice-President in 2009.

Former president Bingu wa Mutharika is reported to have amassed over K61 billion (about $152m) in just under eight years after declaring assets valued at K150 million (about $375 000) in 2004.

Besides the issue of declaration of assets, the proposed law demands 3 860 registered voters across the country to fill the forms; the yet to be registered party should have a constitution, manifesto, symbol, physical address, official colours and details of bank accounts, among others.

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