Media bodies commend PF on FOI bill

Media bodies commend PF on FOI bill
By Fridah Nkonde and Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Mon 18 June 2012, 13:22 CAT

THE Patriotic Front government has gone above political rhetoric by bringing the Freedom of Information (FoI) which will ultimately become law in Zambia, says Anthony Mulowa. And Press Freedom Committee of The Post (PFC) has welcomed the proposed legislation of the FoI, urging "ordinary citizens" to lead in the formulation process.

On Friday, information permanent secretary Amos Malupenga announced that a taskforce working on a Bill had completed drafting the document and was expected to launch it next week for public scrutiny and comments.

According to Malupenga, the taskforce comprising civil society, legal experts, Transparency International - Zambia, Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) and other stakeholders had been working on the FoI for the past few months.

Welcoming the development, Mulowa, the Zambia Union of Journalists president, said the PF government had shown strong political will to bring about the FoI.

Mulowa said it was pleasing that the PF government had fulfilled its promise of ensuring that media reforms were brought to fruition.

"All media bodies were concerned with the FOI bill left by the MMD government which had certain flaws," Mulowa said.

"We are impressed that government has engaged stakeholders to review the bill and we are confident that the promise is being fulfilled by the PF government."

Mulowa said it was good that government would subject the bill to public for scrutiny and comment.

"This is what democracy entails because a lot of people will be able to comment," Mulowa said.

"Even people in the village can comment on this issue. It is important to appreciate the fact that it will be a people-driven law. It is quite remarkable and impressive in the history of Zambia. The government has to be commended."

Mulowa said having the FoI draft was a stepping stone in ensuring that people access vital information.

He said access to information would help people make informed decisions.
Mulowa said the onus was upon the members of parliament and the public to comment and offer criticism on the FOI bill draft.

PFC chairperson Leah Kabamba said ordinary citizens should take lead in shaping the FoI bill as it was a law that would benefit ordinary citizens.

She said the PFC would continue to sensitise ordinary people about the proposed bill.

"We have been going to chiefdoms to sensitise people about this bill because at the end of day, this bill will benefit the ordinary people and not just journalists," said Kabamba. "We will continue to encourage people to make submissions because when this becomes law, it will enable them to seek answers for the development they are not seeing."

And PAZA president Andrew Sakala said having the FoI draft bill ready was a good development for the media and society in general.

Sakala urged journalists and the public to take keen interest by making contributions to the long-awaited bill.

He said everyone was looking forward to the bill because it was beneficial to the public and media practitioners.

"Society has to be taken into consideration before the final bill is taken to Parliament. We are encouraged by the steps taken by government and the same should be done for other legislations," said Sakala.