MISA Zambia Programmes Manager Jane Chirwa
By Memory Chundu
MISA Zambia says the delays in the enactment of
the Access to Information (ATI) law has excluded Zambia from having a more informed
and engaged citizenry.
MISA Zambia Programmes Manager Jane Chirwa
said that it is cardinal for all stakeholders to consider making much more
effort to demand the right of access to information.
She said that ATI cannot be separated from
other equally vital rights such as freedom of expression and participation in
governance.
Ms. Chirwa said access to public
information is the oxygen which facilitates effective citizen participation in
decision making and is a fundamental human right which MISA Zambia is committed
to supporting the process of enacting this law as it promotes media freedoms.
Ms. Chirwa reiterated that Access to
Information law is not only for journalists but the entire citizenry who
benefit from accessing the much needed information from government to enhance
transparency and accountability.
She said that the right to freedom of
expression, freedom of information and media freedom allows people to actively
take part and contribute to social, cultural and political life in their
societies as it enables them shape their societies in an informed manner.
Meanwhile, Jesuit Centre for Theological
Reflection (JCTR) Programmes Officer Fr. Grant Tungay said once the law is
enacted people should not have to request for the information because the law
should compel the public bodies to provide information readily available all
the time.
Fr. Grant said the Government needs to
provide practical steps that will enable citizens to access the information
easily and ensure that a private body is put in place to assist the citizens
get their desired information.
He added that the public bodies should also
update their information annually to enable citizens be updated with the
information of what is happening and the law should also provide for citizens
to request for the information which has not been disclosed adding that if the
body does not have the information desired, then, the people should be directed
to the right place where the desired information will be obtained.
Fr Grant alluded that in a case were the
information has been denied, the people should have the right to appeal to a
higher body that will compel the public institutions to release the information
and the law should also provide for the right to access information in the
language one who is requesting understand.
And speaking in an interview, Bloggers of Zambia
Founder Richard Mulonga said there is no need to undertake any consultations
because a lot of work has already been done.
He said there is no need for confrontations on
the ATI Bill.
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry
of Information and Media Kennedy Kalunga Government will take the Access to
Information Bill to all the ten provinces of Zambia in order to widen stakeholder
consultation on the Bill.
Mr. Kalunga says it was proposed at recent
consultation meetings with the media and other stakeholders that more people
need to be consulted on the Bill across the country, which proposal the
Ministry has fully embraced.
He said that there is a general impression that
the ATI is for the media alone when in fact not hence the decision to subject
it to wider consultation with other stakeholders countrywide.
Mr. Kalunga added that technocrats in the
Ministry have since commenced preparations for the provincial meetings.
And PANOS Executive Director Vusumuzi Sifile
commended Government for the open-door and inclusive manner it is handling the
ATI process and pledged his Organization and Internews Network Zambia support
to the process.
Panos Institute Southern Africa has commended
President Hakainde Hichilema for his commitment towards the enactment of the
Access to Information Bill into law.
Mr. Sifile says there has been a disturbing
trend of withdrawing the Bill by successive governments starting with the MMD were
the Freedom of Information Bill was presented before Parliament but was later
withdrawn on pretext that it must go for further consultations.
He says it is unacceptable that Zambia being a
leader in terms of the democratization of other African countries can fail to
have the ATI bill enacted into law.
Mr. Sifile said he is hopeful that all the
commitments that the President has made in relation to the enactment of the ATI
and other media reforms shall be implemented with speed.
The Media Institute of Southern Africa has
recommended for the review and amendment of the Penal Code in order to reflect
the Country’s new democratic political dispensation and promote fundamental
liberties.
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