By PETER SICHALI
ASSETS declared by candidates vying for political office is public information and should not be a secret, Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) president Nevers Mumba has said.
Dr Mumba said he had no problem with publicising of assets declared by presidential candidates.
Dr Mumba said it has always been a tradition to make public assets declared by those aspiring for public office.
“I don’t have any problem with publicising the asset declaration information because those are public records,” Dr Mumba said.
He said as far as he was concerned information of assets declared by candidates should be accessed by the general public.
“As far as I can remember I can remember information personal information by those aspiring for public office should be accessible unless there is a new regulation that am not aware of that makes it illegal to reveal such information,” he said.
Dr Mumba said ECZ had always publicised the assets declaration information of candidates.
He said instead of leaving it to ECZ to publish assets declared by candidates, the media should also take interest in making such information public.
“Just like court documents, the media should also take interest in accessing assets declared by candidates and make it public because it’s public information,” Dr Mumba said.
He said assets declaration was important because it plays an important role in promoting accountability.
He said it was important for ECZ to ensure that the information was made available to the public.
And Dr Mumba said the MMD is ready for the August, 12 general elections.
He said just like other political parties, the MMD has intensified its campaigns.
Dr Mumba however said the party’s focus was to win the Presidency in this year’s elections.
