Asset Declaration Directorate Rollout Physical Verification Of Asset

Christopher Tukula

Physical Verification Exercise of initial declarations submitted by listed public officers to begin 14th December, 2015, announces the Office of the Director of Public Officer’s Declarations.

The office also announces launch of full Public Access to Declarations on 14th December 2015 and rolling out of preparatory exercise of collecting updates to initial declarations scheduled for 1st July to 31st July 2016.

Christopher Tukula, Director of Public Officers Declarations disclosed this in Lilongwe 

“We now announce the rolling out of the Physical Verification exercise” announced Tukula

He said every public officer designated for the physical verification shall be notified in writing in advance. He said from that date the directorate starts conducting a risk based and purposively sampled physical verification exercise of initial declarations submitted by public officers. 

“This Physical Verification Exercise will involve comparing the data in the forms with data in various public agencies and private entities to check authenticity of, veracity and accuracy.” Said Tukula

He mentioned that among the public and private institutions to cross check the data are Local Government Council registries, Ministry of Lands and Housing, Malawi Housing Corporation, Directorate of Road Traffic and Safety Services, Financial Institutions, Malawi Revenue Authority and any other relevant institutions.

“It shall also involve visiting sites for inspection and assessment of declared movable and immovable properties whenever necessary” added Tukula while indicating that this will be done by professionals

The Director of Asset Declaration indicated that this programme is an ongoing for all the declarations. He further mentioned that the directorate has already completed the formal check and desk analysis of all declarations in readiness for the exercise.

The directorate has also urged the general public to alert (whistleblower) the office of any listed public officer violating asset declaration provisions which includes submission of false or inaccurate declaration and that the whistleblower identity will be protected in accordance with relevant provisions of the law governing declaration regime.

Full Public Access to Declarations 

The Directorate says the Public Access to Declaration platform of all listed officers is beginning 14th December 2015 now open to public upon application to Director. Tukula said the directorate has compiled a data base upon which the public access platform has been developed

“So all categories are now under the Public Access Platform.” He said

The platform was initially operational for officers in the Political (party leaders and their treasurer generals) and elected officers (Presidency, 196 Legislatures and 426 Councilors) category since March 2014.

Now the office says starting on 7th December which is Monday next week the office is rolling out Public Access Platform to the rest of the listed officers. In March this year opened up a Public Access Platform where members of public could go and access to declarations of various public officers. It first started with political and elected officers comprising of Presidency, legislatures and Ward councilors.

He asked members of public, media and CSO’s to utilize Public Access Platform so that people can access the declaration and compare what they know about the officers and report (whistleblowing) if there is any discrepancy.

"We are encouraging the public to utilize this platform so that you can inform the directorate of any abuse of the Act by listed public officer.

No information relating to whistleblower shall be admitted in evidence in any administrative, civil or criminal proceedings, and no person shall be obliged or permitted to disclose the name or address of such whistleblower, or state any matter which might lead to his or her discovery" assured Tukula

He also said there will be outreach civic education clinics aimed at sensitise the public role of to support the directorate