ASSET DECLARATION BY MINISTERS SHOCK PF

Lusaka ~ Monday, 18 July 2022

By Brightwell Chabusha

PF Acting President Given Lubinda has wondered why ACC is pursuing former first lady Esther Lungu over 15 flats when ‘a former civil servant’ can declare than they have a farm worth K60 million.

Speaking when he addressed the media at the Party secretariat today, Mr Lubinda frowned at the declaration of assets that current ministers recently made.

He is shocked that, instead of 30 days as “prescribed under the law,” the new dawn ministers took 10 months to declare their assets.

“Firstly, it must be made clear that these declarations are belated by 10 months. Because the law is very clear. It dictates that within the month of being appointed, a person must make declarations. Within 30 days, it doesn’t say after one year. it says within 30 days. Why did it take them 10 months?” he asked.

“Secondly, the indecent amounts of money and assets that are being declared are shocking. These make a mockery of the pursuit of the few assets that are held by PF members. If some people in this country, having served as civil servants can have this stinking wealth, how can anybody imagine that the former first lady should be pursued over owning 15 flats?”

Mr Lubinda stressed the need for fairness in how law enforcement agencies operate.

“If some people can say I have a farm worth K60 million, you start to wonder is there gold mine on that farm? Then you pursue a person, former first lady for owning 15 flats. If a former civil servant has a farm worth K60 million, how can a former first lady, having been a first lady for seven years, you go and ask how did you acquire 15 flats?” he asked.

“Before you go and inquire on how a former civil servant has K320 million in his account. Chisakomele galu kuluma mbuzi…..what is good for the opposition must be good for a ruling party. So they should tell us, where did all this money come from?”

He however called on law enforcement agencies to verify the assets.

Mr Lubinda said it’s possible that what he termed as indecent, insane assets are actually just a preparation to stealing tax payer’s money.

He insinuated that “they prepare now to say we have K60 million worth farm so that in five years’ time when they have actually accumulated then they say but you see I told you in 2022.”