US Ambassador to Zambia Eric Schultz said the main purpose of enacting the Access to Information Law is to give the average Zambian citizen access to government information and the ability to hold government accountable.

Speaking when he featured on a special interview on QFM , Mr Schultz said the Zambian Access to Information Bill is similar to the US Freedom of Information Act which made a big difference when it was enacted.

Mr Schultz said enacting the Access to Information Bill into law will help create an open society in Zambia like the situation is in the United States where people could petition to get information directly from the government.

Mr Schultz states that it is important the enactment of the Access to Information Bill is separated from discussions of what is classified information and what is the correct professional behavior for Zambian Journalists.
And Mr Schultz has hailed the Zambian media for being fearless, open and active.
Meanwhile Ambassador Schultz says President Edgar Lungu deserves some credit for intervening in the impasse over the mining tax regime and reducing the mineral royalty tax from 20 percent to 9 percent.
He notes that had the President not taken the measures he took, a number of mining companies would have begun to reduce their operations which could have affected economic growth, employment and tax revenue.

9 COMMENTS

kavundula May 13, 2015 At 2:00 pm

Remind this hypocrite that an American whistleblower has just been thrown into jail for talking to the press.
- Obatala Lungulitis May 13, 2015 At 3:07 pm
  
  Thanks Mr Ambassador, unfortunately you are talking to a bunch of airheads. Straight forward issues and our PF empty tins do not comprehend! Lord have mercy, pleeeese
- Mervis May 13, 2015 At 3:35 pm
  
  ANY AMBASSADOR’S ROLE IS TO PROMOTE HIS COUNTRY’S INTERESTS IN A FOREIGN LAND. SO IN WHOSE INTEREST IS HE TALKING? DON’T JUST BLINDLY SUPPORT JUST COZ U ARE IN OPPOSITION, OF COURSE WE NEED THE ATI ENACTED BUT WITH A UNITED ZAMBIA’S INTERESTS AT HEART.
  
  WHEN THERE WAS A CALL TO HAVE SERIAL CANDIDATES RESIGN, MANY SAID UK POLITICS AND ZAMBIA POLITICS ARE DIFFERENT, AGREED! BUT IS U.S.A FORM OF GOVERNMENT SAME AS ZAMBIA THIS TIME? OR IS IT JUST COZ IT FITS YOUR PERSONAL WANTS?
- TheEngineer May 13, 2015 At 4:14 pm
  
  @1.2 he his talking to you baboons who are still living in the stone age.
Keleni tasa atushe' May 13, 2015 At 2:03 pm

Agree with Ambassadors comments relating to the access to information bill.
However pali Mining Tax, U got it wrong, & of course U will support anything that exploits poor Nations.
IT’S CALLED CAPITALISM!!!
- James May 13, 2015 At 3:27 pm
  
  AND U THINK HE IS UNBIASED ON THE ATI BILL? HE IS AN AMERICAN PROMOTING HIS COUNTRY’S INTERESTS.
Ken May 13, 2015 At 3:51 pm

He is a Yank , as always sticking his nose in other countries business.
where there is problem or conflict in the world you will find the yanks involved.
be objective May 13, 2015 At 5:35 pm

Do we need the ATI? Yes. We are tired of lies. We want the people to know the truth.
tt May 13, 2015 At 5:51 pm

Does it have to take a foreigner to remind us of the obvious?? I mean all the parties, including PF when it was in opposition advocates for the ATI, it is a good law – if you don’t have anything to hide. We know that power corrupts, and Lungu is already in knee high in protecting the corrupt. Only an evil govt can try to oppose it.