‘Stop wasting your time’, UPND tells opposition that no law requires Hichilema to declare assets

The ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) has advised the opposition to stop wasting their time requesting for President Hakainde Hichilema to declare his assets.

In December, 2023, Patriots for Economic Progress (PEP) leader, Sean Tembo, wrote to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), requesting them to ask Hichilema to declare his assets, a move which was supported by others

UPND National Youth Trustee, Charles Kabwita, told Zambia Monitor that there was no law which required an incumbent to declare his or her assets to the public.

Kabwita said the requirement was removed under the previous Patriotic Front (PF) administration and that the only law which remained which required the President to declare their assets was the ECZ Act.

“A President was required by the ECZ Act to declare their assets during the filing in of nominations but had excluded the part to make such a declaration to the public,” he explained.

Kabwita advised the opposition through the Members of Parliament to consider going to the National Assembly and present a motion which would seek to restore the part where the President was required to declare assets.

“PF removed this clause from the constitution following a debate on the accumulation of wealthy by then President Edgar Lungu, within a year of his presidency, this clause was removed from our constitution,” he said.

Kabwita stated that the opposition should not capitalise on the ignorance of the issue when they fully understood what happened in the previous administration.

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