The Speech Analyst –Mike Sichula History of Access to information (ATI Law) in Zambia
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Zambia’s Speech Analyst Mike Sichula with Special assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda
The Speech Analyst –Mike Sichula
History of Access to information (ATI Law) in Zambia:
- January 2003, Vice President Enoch Kavindele: Government needs sufficient search before the ATI Bill is tabled in Parliament.
- February 2005, Information Minister, Mutale Nalumango: ATI Law should not be rushed though there is no shift in government’s principles of transparency, accountability and good governance.
- January 2006, Vice President Lupando Mwape ATI Law can bleed chaos as excess freedom is dangerous. The Bill will be reintroduced before Parliament after allaying fears.
February 2016, Information Minister, Vernon Johnson Mwaanga. Government is consulting locally and abroad and has no immediate intention of tabling the Bill before Parliament. This is because the ATI Law can be difficult to implement and cope with.
May 2006, Deputy Information Minister Benny Tentamashimba the Bill will be tabled in 2007 after exhaustive consultations with all stakeholders.
June 2006, Information Minister, Vernon Johnson Mwaanga: Government is still consulting on the ATI Bill.
January 2008, President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa: Government will present the Bill by December 2008.
January 2009, President Rupiah Bwezani Banda: Consultations on the ATI Bill have reached an advanced stage.
August 2010, Information Minister, Lieutenant General Ronny Shikapwasha: Zambia is not yet ready for the ATI Law, as we need more consultations.
October 2011, Vice President / Acting President Guy Scott: Government is keen to table the Bill before Parliament within 90 days but fears that opposition parties will block the Bill.
December 2011, Information and Tourism Minister Given Lubinda: There is need to put logistics in place before enacting the ATI Bill.
February 2012, Information and Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda: The ATI Law is not for government but for media practitioners. Government wants to listen and exhaust more consultations so that a perfect Bill is presented.
June 2012, Information Permanent Secretary Amos Malupenga: Task Force on ATI Law has completed its work on the draft Bill. The Bill will be launched in a few days’ time for public scrutiny and input before submission to Cabinet and Parliament.
July 2013, Information Minister, Kennedy Sakeni: The ATI draft Bill will be forwarded to a Parliamentary Sub-committee on Information and Broadcasting before being considered by Cabinet and Parliament. However Government has to ensure that the Bill has all the required ingredients before tabling it.
December 2013, Information Minister, Kennedy Sakeni: The ATI Bill will be tabled in Parliament within the First Quarter of 2014.
February 2015, Information Minister, Chishimba Kambwili: The ATI Bill will be tabled in Parliament before the end of the sitting which ends in March 2015.
March 2015, Information Minister, Chishimba Kambwili: The ATI Bill was sent to the Attorney General’s Office for clearance pending presentation to Parliament.
May 3rd, 2017, Justice Minister Given Lubinda attributes Government’s procrastination on the ATI Bill to a backlog of Legislative work required to operationalise the January 2015.
Wednesday May 3rd, 2017, Justice Minister Given Lubinda attributes Government’s procrastination on the ATI Bill to a backlog of Legislative work required to operationalise the January 2015 Amended Republican Constitution. The ATI Bill was lost with failed Referendum on the Bill of Rights
Friday February 28th 2020, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary (PS) Amos Malupenga says that the enactment of the Access To Information (ATI) is on course. Mr. Malupenga was speaking at Holiday Inn Southern Sun during the MISA Zambia 2019 Fourth Quarter State of the Media Launch at which he called for dialogue and professionalism in the media.
Radio 89.1MHz, 5FM 89.9MHz and now Radio Phoenix 89.5FM Mike Sichula Journalist and Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Journalist Brian Mwale at the enviable 2017 Rural Electrification Authority Media Awards at Radisson Blu Hotel Lusaka Thursday 22nd February 2018 Picture by Rainbow Zambia Derrick Sinjela www.rainbownewszambia.com – Zambian Developmental Media Alliance (ZADEMA)
Cell: +260977 719061 ….published on Page 5 of the authoritative Rainbow Newspaper Established Monday 25th June 2007 “Promoting Diversity in News Coverage”.
Zambian Developmental Media Alliance (ZADEMA) and Zambian Children Young People and Women in Development (ZCYPWD).
