Zimbabwe legislators asked to declare assets by 5 October

Zimbabwe’s legislators are required to declare their assets by 5 October, the Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda reminded them yesterday.

Mudenda said the law required Member of Parliament to declare their assets within 30 days of being sworn in.

“I wish to remind all Hon. Members that in terms of Section 198 of the Constitution and Standing Order Number 49, you are required to declare your assets within 30 days of having taken oath or affirmation of a Member of Parliament and the 30 days will expire on the 5th October, 2018,” Mudenda said when the House sat after the President’s State of the Nation Address.

Members of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change walked out of the House when President Emmerson Mnangagwa started presenting his address.

Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa claims he won the elections but was robbed by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission which declared Mnangagwa the winner.

Chamisa was expected to inaugurate himself last weekend but this was scuttled by the cholera outbreak that has hit the capital claiming 31 lives.

Mudenda told the legislators that those who failed to comply will be in contempt of Parliament.

“I therefore, encourage all Hon. Members who are yet to comply to visit the office of Counsel to Parliament in Office Number 306, Third Floor, Parliament Building,” he said.

The requirement which was aimed at curbing corruption by legislators seems to have largely been ignored as going into politics is still viewed as the quickest and surest way of enriching those that are elected.

The National Assembly has 270 members, 210 elected directly and 60 through proportional representation. The proportional representation quota is reserved for women.

Those sworn in on 5 September are:

Banda Gift;

Banda Samuel;

Bhila Royi;

Biti Laxton Tendai;

Bhuda Sibusisiwe;

Bushu Bramwell;

Bvute Ozias;

Chamisa Starman;

Chanda Gorden;

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