The Civil Society members of the Taskforce on Freedom of Information (FOI) have expressed concern over government’s delay in giving a concrete position on the launch of the Draft Access to Information (ATI) Bill.
This is contained in a statement made available to the media.
The Civil Society members who include; Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) Transparency International Zambia (TIZ), Economics Association of Zambia (EAZ), Media Institute of Southern Africa (Zambia), Law Association of Zambia, University of Zambia and the Department of Mass Communication are dismayed that the Draft Bill which was scheduled to be launched first on the 21st June and then postponed to 26th June 2012 has to date not been launched and there has been no indication from government when the launch would take place.
These concerns have been raised in a letter addressed to the Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Hon. Kennedy Sakeni, dated 31st August 2012. The Civil Society members of the FOI Taskforce are urging government to avoid further delays but immediately launch the Draft Bill so that it can be released for public consultation and scrutiny.
We welcome the recent announcement by the Vice President Hon. Guy Scott that the Bill will be tabled before Parliament in February 2013, which to a certain extent has addressed the significant uncertainty following the second postponement of the launch.
The February 2013 timeline will provide the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services in collaboration with the FOI Taskforce adequate time for a thorough nationwide public consultation process which will accord citizens with sufficient time to make their input into the Access to Information Draft Bill.
The members have further observed that there is a lack of transparency around the ATI legislative process. Lack of transparency has the potential to jeopardize what has been attained in this important process so far. We are therefore suggesting that a more comprehensive timeline for the process be immediately made available, detailing the various stages of the process which should include the following milestones:
a. The launch of Draft Bill for public consultation,
b. Consolidation of the input from the public,
c. Presentation of the Bill to Cabinet,
d. Tabling of the bill in Parliament,
e. Eventual passing of the bill into law
Additionally we are concerned that there has not been a Taskforce meeting since 19th June 2011 resulting in the Taskforce now being considerably behind on its action plan.
Furthermore, we are concerned that, it is now two weeks since we wrote to the Minister’s office (Hon. Kennedy Sakeni) requesting for an update on the Launch of the draft Bill and possible meeting but there has been no response.
Lastly, the Civil Society Taskforce members wish to take the opportunity to thank the Government through the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services for instituting the FOI Taskforce. This action demonstrates its commitment to the enactment of the ATI Legislation in Zambia. However, it is the hope of the Civil Society members that the Minister will look into issues raised and accord them an opportunity to engage with him on this process.
Other members of the Task force include the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services and other line ministries such as Ministry of Justice. The World Bank has provided the Taskforce with technical assistance as required.
PF is full of u turns and cannot be trusted for anything let alone the presidency and the general political leadership of the country. This PF is made of pure failures in the truest sense. Who in PF inspires confidence for anything? What plocies do they have to show even whether they are east or west bound in direction? The answer is nill
Mmembe won’t allow it, so it will never pass!
Sad, though I’ve never been surprised by this kind of behavior from PF. What do you expect from a leader with an honorary Degree,anyway?
FOI bill ended the day Hon Lubinda was removed 4m de ministry. It is collecting dust in Malupenga’s office and it won’t b come to fruition.
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