Parliament Blocks Broadcaster From Announcing MPs’ Assets

The National Assembly on 2 September 2009, rebuffed Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) on its request to announce names of Members of Parliament (MPs) that had complied with constitutional requirement to declare their assets. This follows a request from ZBS on 21 August 2009, demanding names of MPs that had declared their assets as well as a list of assets they had declared.

‘In response to the request, Speaker of Parliament Henry Chimunthu Banda said the constitutional provision clearly spells out the procedure for the declaration of assets and the body that is empowered to monitor compliance. “It would therefore be not procedural for the speaker to submit details of declaration to your institution for purposes of announcement. Furthermore, whatever has happened on this matter is in line with the practice that has developed since the enactment of the law,” said Chimunthu Banda.
 
Speaking in separate interviews, ZBS Executive Director Gospel Kazako told The Sunday Times newspaper that the radio would not take up the issue any further. “The resistance by the National Assembly to provide names of those who had declared their assets as provided for in the Constitution was part of the refining process of the democratic process,” he said. Kazako further said in writing to parliament on the matter that the radio was not fighting the legislative arm of government, rather it was doing so in good faith to help Malawians know which MP had complied with the law or not.  
Meanwhile, reports indicate that all cabinet ministers, deputy ministers and President Dr. Bingu wa Mutharika have declared their assets.

Reagan Malumo
Programme Officer: Media Freedom Monitoring and Research
Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Regional Secretariat
21 Johann Albrecht St
Private Bag 13386
Windhoek
Namibia
Phone: +264 61 232 975
Fax: +264 61 248 016
Mobile: +264 81 311 2626
E mail: reagan@misa.org

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