Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have demanded that the Access to Information Bill (ATI) be presented to parliament as the house resumes sitting later this month.
Speaking during a media briefing in Lusaka today, CSOs Spokesperson, Theresa Chewe, says once the Bill is enacted, it will enhance accountability, transparency and then fight corruption in the country.
Ms Chewe, who is also Southern Africa Centre for the Constructive Resolutions of Disputes (SACCORD) Financial and Administration officer, says the Patriotic Front (PF) manifesto supports the Access to Information bill and that it is therefore important that the government ensures that the Bill is presented to parliament in the coming session.
She adds that civil society organisations will continue to engage government to ensure that the content of the draft Access to Information Bill is in accordance with the aspirations of the people of Zambia and that government outlines the timeline for the enactment of the Law.
Speaking at the same briefing, Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) Executive Director, MacDonald Chipenzi, urged the newly appointed Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, Mwansa Kapeya, to ensure that he engages other cabinet ministers in supporting the bill.
Mr. Chipenzi is hopeful that the appointment of a Journalist as Information Minister will ease the process because he understands the importance of the Bill.
He adds that the country has been crying for the enactment of this law and that it is important that the PF government gives the people want they want.
Mussolini was a journalist. He ended up one of the worst dictators the world has seen…stifling free flow of information in Italy. Let’s just wait and see what the jounalist, Mr. Mwansa Kapeya shall bring forth to the table.
and he was SOCIALIST like Kabimba!!!
PF have not genuine intention to support the FOI bill. Forgot about what they said during the 2011 campaigns. The FOI bill will suffer the same fate as the Public Order Act and the report of the Commission of Inquiry on the Barotse issue.