VP Urges PF Members To Declare Illegally Acquired Assets

Vice President Mutale Nalumango has urged members of the Patriotic Front party to forfeit any property or assets that they might have acquired illegally before the law catches up with them.

Addressing Parliament during the weekly Vice President’s Question and Answer Session last Friday, Mrs Nalumango said the government’s asset recovery programme would be continuing at pace .

She explained that under the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Act, section 80, a person with assets suspected to be the proceeds of a crime may return them so as to avoid going through the lengthy litigation process. These assets are then put to public use. 

“This law allows for the person with property and resources acquired illegally to declare the items other than under going the litigation process in the courts of law which is too long,” she said.

Last week, former ZNBC broadcaster Faith Musonda surrendered K65 million as well as $57,900 to the ACC in order to avoid going to jail. The cash is believed to have been acquired illegally and Ms Musonda has cooperated with the authorities in order to avoid being arrested. Police also seized her house in New Kasama, believed to be worth some K6 million.