No donations above K500,000

National

By MALUM NALU
POLITICAL parties are not allowed to accept donations totalling more than K500,000 in one year and all donations must be declared within 30 days, according to the Registry of Political Parties.
The registry, in an information booklet for political parties released this week, said it was a requirement for political parties under the Organic Law on Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates (Olippac) to show to the registry within 30 days of accepting contributions from citizens – not more than K500,000 in total in a year –  and information on the contributions.
Failure to do so would result in:

  • A fine of not more than K10,000;
  • repayment to the Central Fund of the amount received; and,
  • cancellation and deregistration.

Where it involves a member of that political party, that member will be fined not more than K2000 or imprisonment for a term of not more than six months.
Where a member of that political party is an executive officer, he or she is guilty of an offence of misconduct in office under the Leadership Code.
Where it involves a member of parliament, that MP will be fined not more than K2000 or imposed a jail term not more than six months, and is guilty of misconduct in office under the Organic Law on Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership.
“One source of funding for political parties is donations from citizens,” it said.
“The limit of funding by citizens in any one calendar year to political parties is K500,000. Details of the donations must be made known to the Registrar of Political Parties and Candidates within 30 days of the transaction.”
The law is tougher on donations from non-citizens.