Newly appointed Information and Broadcasting Permanent Secretary Emmanuel Mwamba has disclosed that the Access to Information Bill will not be tabled before parliament in its current form.
Mr Mwamba said the bill would be in conflict with existing legislation in the country if it is presented in its current form.
He told a media briefing this morning that Government has since engaged a consultant to study the document.
“We have since appointed Madam Eva Jhala to carry out a study on the implications of the current bill, we have given her a month to come back with a report,” Mr Mwamba said.
“Zambia is essentially a closed society.There are several statutes that classify government correspondence as confidential, the Official Secrets Act, the Penal Code, the Oath Act all are in conflict with the current bill.”
He said he really wanted the enactment of the Information Bill to be one of his achievements at the Ministry of Information.
“I really wanted to move quickly on this issue but you can appreciate the fact that we need to out a good piece of law.”
And Mr. Mwamba has disclosed that Government has cancelled the tender on digital migration.
He explained that the tender will be unbundled into four lots to enable the country meet the June 2015 deadline.
“We have followed recommendation from the ZPPA to cancel the tender because it was marred with irregularities,” Mr Mwamba said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mwamba has announced that Zambia Daily Mail Managing Director Isaac Chipampe has been dropped from his position.
Mr. Chipampe has since been transferred to the Ministry of Information as Director of Press and Media Development.
Mr. Mwamba said that Zambia Daily Mail Deputy Managing Director Anthony Mukwita has since been appointed to act as Managing Director with immediate effect.
Not surprising. We have come to expect procrastination by the PF on matters to do with freedom of expression, information, etc.
Mr Mwamba.. the information bill you have to pay to the zambian public one day…. is what happened to chiluba in his final hour on earth???
Am a bit confused here. Can someone help? I thought the laws of our land are enacted and amended by PARLIAMENT. So, why is this CIVIL SERVANT talking about the info bill being tabled in parliament? I thought there would be a special parliamentally select committee appointed to do and say what Mwamba is saying. To me, it is the digital tender issue that falls within his sphere of operation and not the other. Can some legal mind assist please?
@wanu Ngwee
you are not mistaken, in fact you are 100% correct!!! thats the way things must be, but this is PF for you. Your correct well meaning comment can be seen as an insult by PF adminstration
@NDOBO, tell us more…. I’ve also heard that this Mwamba chap engineered FTJ’s death!!!
Mupelekeni ku Police… A Police azaweluza MAKALI WANU !!!
@Wanu Ngwee
iwe Wanu Ngwee.. nimupeleke ku police??,, the police in zambia enjoys arresting witnesses and whistleblowers, and i can only point kapokola to go get more info from the ZWD while standing at a very safe distance,,
And to all miserable Man utd fans out there,,, sorry guys!!! Get drank you will feel better!!!!!!!!!!!kekekekek
His master’s voice. More unfulfilled promises.
elo lwanya nomba…
will this bill ever see the day light?
just asking…..
Why the prolonged delay? What are they trying to hide?
Man that keyood fred.
In a way this approach should be adopted for other statutes as well and not only when it suits government. Take for example retirement age where there was a premature announcement by cabinet of having approved 65 years and yet this was in contravention to the current constitution (55 years) and even the proposal in the draft constitution (60years, early at 55 years). So please Ba minister apply the law uniformly.
Just copy the British. They have more secrets than a prostitute but they still have a freedom of information bill. What secrets does Zambia have when it uses satelites it doesn’t own?
Zambian government secrets are kept against the Zambians themselves, but not against foreign powers who can hack into our networks with impunity.
This bill will never be passed. Mwamba is just wasting our time. Let him just direct that consultancy to clear his name from Chilubas demise
Well well, after all this time “they” did not know of the other pieces of legislation that have a bearing on the proposed bill? No wonder the constitution is taking for ever. Do we have any technocrats left in government or their advice is not taken seriously?
How does a government craft a bill which is in conflict with existing laws… PF Baboons never stop to amuse
Zambians by nature procrastinate. On top of that majority of politicians and civil servants are greedy and have no concern for public funds. They project to be holier than thou but at the end of the day majority of them just steal and steal. An average Zambian Minister and PS work for 23 minutes a day, rest is conducting meetings, using public phone, meeting fellow ministers, friends, driving and domestic chores.
Zambia is a Christian nation inhabited by pagans (non-Christians)
The information bill in its form needs to reconcile with other laws like aoth of secrecy. This is one of the reasons it cant be tabled now. How disciplined is the partisan zambian media to have access to some information? Post PF and Muvi TV HH. How safe is our country if such a bill become law with people like Nevers mumba who lost imployment for not chosing what to say and not to say?
Zambian politics.
Michael jackson =king of pop. Michael =king of ……………….BY the time sata goes zambia will be in total confusion. Already barotse land is a hot spot. Its too late for membe to cry because . He is the next violence victim
Michael jackson was king of pop. Michael sata = king of………….
King of FLOP!
i can browse zambian watchdog now in zed, what has happened? has the grz failed to pay the chinese hackers their dues?
Michael jackson = king of pop. Michael sata = king of………….
Still pid idi yots thinking that they will rule forever. Remember what you’ve done to the govt workers. Only classified daily employees (CDEs) r smiling. Try hard to impress but people are closely watching. Time wil tell.
if the conflicting clauses are already known why hire a consultant? guys you are making IT difficult for me to sell you to my Tonga brethren….further, the chap who drafted the current one should be asked to pay back…..TWALAMICHINJISHA AMANO NOMBALINE IF YOU CONTINUE IN THIS PATH BA PF…
@Choma Gangster, what are you still waiting for? Abanobe kale bachinja amano, don’t let the rot get to you…
everything the pf promised have suffered excuses, typical of a human being. anyway, thank you mr. mwamba for confirming, we knew it, we just waited for someone to confirm.
Please you PS and ministers strive to succeed,and make a difference in your governance for merit .we are hopeful.
king of pupu
hunter original ????? ??? ???? http://shenlongn.iwcjpdonimmense.org/