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Zambian public institutions operating in secrecy – MISA Zambia

Zambian public institutions operating in secrecy – MISA Zambia
By Kombe Chimpinde
Wed 29 Sep. 2010, 04:01 CAT

ZAMBIAN public institutions operate in secrecy with a near 100 per cent failure to respond to citizens’ requests for information, a study conducted by the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) has revealed.

And the same study has rated the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services as the most secretive government unit in the country. This came to light when MISA Zambia launched the most 'open and secretive public institutions in Zambia' report yesterday.

MISA Zambia interim chairperson Fanuel Chembo who presented the report at a media briefing said of all the five institutions surveyed only one institution responded to requests from citizens for information.

“Secrecy is a major problem in government and public institutions in Zambia. Generally, the Zambian government institutions operate in secrecy with a near 100 per cent failure to respond to citizens for information. Of the five institutions surveyed, none but one, responded to a written request for information while the other four neither acknowledged receipt or provided reasons for not providing information requested for,” he said.

“In spite of empirical evidence from such studies of prevailing secrecy in most public institutions in Zambia, government is all talk and no action to enact the Freedom of Information (FoI) Bill since 2002 'further consultations 'have been cited as the reasons for the delay.”

Chembo also highlighted the contrast speed taken by the government to amend the Independent Broadcasting Act 9 and (IBA) Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Act of 2002 as among the many contributing factors.

“To attest to this, MISA Zambia, in 2006, undertook a survey of the ZNBC main news during the run-up to the 2006 tripartite elections .The results revealed that ZNBC gave 75 per cent coverage to the ruling party than opposition parties,” the report read in part.

Chembo said that although government highly embraced the use of information technology such as websites to provide information, the development for handling of citizens requests still remained very poor as demonstrated by the findings of the research.

“Despite having officials designated to provide information to the public, information remains a privilege than a right for citizens, given or refused at the discretion of a public office,” Chembo said.

“It therefore goes without saying that the most secretive government institutions for 2010 and recipient of the Golden Padlock Award is no other than the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services.”

He said the information ministry takes over from the Ministry of Health which was named as most secretive institution last year.

And the Ministry of Education has been ranked as the most open institution this year that had provided information sought in the research conducted by MISA.

According to the report there had been significant improvement in the utilization of information technologies by the Ministry of Finance and National Planning and the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ)in interacting with the public.

MISA has since called for an urgent enactment of an access to information law in addition to Parliament retaining the clause providing for the right to access to information in the draft constitution under review.

Meanwhile information and broadcasting minister Ronnie Shikapwasha has described the report as inaccurate and biased.

“It is clear that the tone of the report of MISA 's primary aim is malice and ill will against government,” Shikapwasha said.

“Landmark policy and legal reforms are being taken ranging from live coverage of debates in the National Assembly to liberalization of the media industry. By an Act of Parliament, Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation has been transformed from a national broadcaster to a public while the process towards media self regulation and enactment of Freedom of Information bill is going on.”

Shikapwasha added that a digital Migration Task force is in place as well as rapid and robust growth in ICTs after the laying of the Zesco optic fiber all which contributed to enhancement of access to information.

Labels: FANUEL CHEMBO, GOVERNANCE, MISA, RONNIE SHIKAPWASHA, SECRECY

posted by MrK @ 10:17 AM