MPS WHO FAIL TO DECLARE ASSETS, LIABILITIES STAND TO LOSE POSITIONS

LOBAMBA – Members of Parliament (MPs) and public officers stand to lose their positions if they fail to declare their assets and liabilities.
The Commission on Human Right and Public Administration/Integrity Deputy Commissioner, Duduzile Nhlengetfwa, said there will be no mercy on those who will deliberately not declare their assets and liabilities. The deputy commissioner, in an interview in Parliament during the declaration exercise, stated that in the past, they were lenient with public officers who are required by the law to declare their assets and liabilities. She stated that they will set a grace period by which all public officers are expected to have submitted the required documentation for their assets and liabilities.

Nhlengetfwa said if the grace period passes without them honouring Section 241 of the Constitution, Section 242 will be applied. The section states that if an officer who contravenes the code may, after due process of law, be dismissed or removed from office by reasons of such breach or abuse and may be disqualified from holding any public office either generally or for a specified period. Subsection 2 states that any property or assets acquired after the initial declaration under this chapter and which is not reasonably attributable to income, government loan, inheritance or any other legitimate source, shall, after due process of law, be forfeited to government. Yesterday, the Speaker of the House of Assembly led by example and declared his assets and liabilities before the Deputy Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Public Administration/Integrity, Nhlengethwa.

requirement

He stated that it was not his first time declaring his assets before the commission, as he constantly did it as per the requirement of the supreme law of the country. The commission conducted a workshop on declaring their assets on May 13, 2024 and left forms that guided the MPs on what is required of them. During the exercise yesterday, it was mentioned that the Speaker was among the public officers who religiously declared their assets and did not need to be reminded of the obligation. In fact, he submitted all his assets and liabilities that need to be declared prior to the commission to go through them and advise where needed. At the time he arrived for the proclamation, he was only left to sign and he took less than five minutes as his papers were in order. It is worth mentioning that the Speaker’s file had a number of documents and it was bulky.

Mabuza urged public officers to declare their assets as it is required by the Constitution. He said MPs should lead by example as legislators.“It is crucial for us as parliamentarians to declare because it shows the commitment we have in terms of accountability and transparency,” he said. Mabuza said those who were unable to be part of the exercise yesterday, were welcome to visit the office of the Commission on Human Rights and Public Administration/Integrity and conduct the exercise there. Other MPs who were with the Speaker during the exercise are Mangcongo MP Lomalanga Dlamini, Ludzeludze MP Nomkhosi Masuku, appointed MP Chief Ngalonkhulu Mabuza, Ngudzeni MP Charles Ndlovu, Nkilongo MP Petros Sibandze, Gege MP Magesi Dlamini and Phondo MP Bonginkosi Dube.

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