Parliamentarians to declare interests

MEMBERS of Parliament (MPs) will soon be required to declare their interests and assets in Parliament, to show what they possess, a move meant to promote accountability and transparency amongst the people's representatives.

Declaring interests is putting everything that one owns or possesses before a Commissioner of Oaths, to show that whatever one acquires later is verified by their capabilities.

Of late, there have been reports of "massive" looting in quasi- governmental organisations and parastatals where boards of directors and those tasked with superintending over the affairs of the institutions allowed plundering of resources to go unabated.

Sources told Radio Dialogue that declaring interests in Parliament was the beginning of monitoring riches that individuals acquired.

They said the Speaker of Parliament, (Jacob Mudenda), announced this some weeks ago.

"If one acquires wealth it should be known whether it was in a dubious or right way. The speaker of Parliament wants to bring in a new dimension of trust so that people have faith in their leaders.

"This is a people driven country and leaders must lead by example. MPs should also declare what they are owning. This should happen to every MP, minister or not.

"MPs use their oversight powers to make decisions over the people and yet we too have to be honest about our riches," said the legislator.

The legislator said the speaker would announce the dates of when this act would be done in Parliament.

"This shows that Parliament is ready to fight corruption. The MPs are wiling to work together.

"Some are working in moving motions about this. There has to be strong laws that fight and stop  corruption. For example, one can ask, under what law will Cuthbert Dube be prosecuted. There are none.  There is no law in Zimbabwe that prevents civil servants to open a company within the state.

In other countries, like South Africa, individuals cannot render a service to the state if they are a civil servant," one source said.

Sources said legislators said were keen to ask cabinet ministers about how their handling their job operations.

"For example MPs wanted to inquire with Local Government minister, Ignatius Chombo's on why he reinstated suspended Harare town clerk Tendai Mahachi yet he had been suspended over allegations of insubordination," one said.

A political analyst, Thomas Sithole,  said if this move were to happen, it would be a welcome development.

He said this was long overdue as a matter of fact.

"MPs are people's servants hence it is in the public's interest to know what they have as they serve them so that they can account for whatever assets they would have acquired during their tenure. We have seen some who earn paltry salaries becoming obscenely rich overnight."

Sithole added this new development could help curb unethical and corrupt deeds.

"I think there are some elements within the party who want to fight corruption and should be supported by the public and their colleagues in government as well as the opposition and civil society in exposing this rote which is hemorrhaging our economy. The entire nation should be united and speak with one voice against this vice," he said.