JCTR WELCOMES GOVERNMENTS’ INTENTION TO RE-TABLE THE ACCESS TO INFORMATION (ATI) BILL IN PARLIAMENT
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FROM: JCTR
TO: MEDIA HOUSES
DATE: Thursaday 2nd MARCH 2017
RE: JCTR WELCOMES GOVERNMENTS’ INTENTION TO RE-TABLE THE ACCESS TO INFORMATION (ATI) BILL IN PARLIAMENT.
THE Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) is delighted that the Zambian government through Minister of Justice, Hon. Given Lubinda, has reaffirmed its resolve to re-table the Access to Information (ATI) Bill in Parliament. JCTR equally re-affirms a consistent position that the Access to Information law is necessary as it fits well in democratic governance system which Zambia has always aspired to become, since the re-introduction of Multi-party democracy. AS JCTR, we believe that the Access to Information law supports progressive dialogue and exchange of rightful and transparently acquired information enhancing development.
It is our contention as JCTR urging parliamentarians especially those in the PF government and all Members of Parliament (MP’s) to support the elusive Bill once it is re-tabled in parliament by PF Kabwata MP, Lubinda currently serving as Justice Minister.
The right to have access to information guarantees monitoring of human rights obsersance as enshrined in United Nations (UN) protocals whic Zambia is party to and prudent use of public resources by those entrusted with the responsibility by tax payers and the electorate. The importance of the right to information law creates an informed citizenry, meaningful enhanced public participation and exposure of corruption and mismanagement of public resources by whistleblowers . The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), in Article19, declares: “everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) includes essentially the same language. It is however, unfortunate to state that in Zambia today “Freedom” to receive information has been interpreted to mean just that and no more – namely, the freedom to receive information from willing sources without government interference.
JCTR and other Civil Society organisations involved in the promotion of good governance, we call upon MPs to go beyond partisan lines and consider approving the ATI Bill once it is tabled before Parliament and as well task themselves with sensitizing their constituencies on the significance of ATI. We make a similar call to the media, the church and all interested stakeholders to ensure that as many people as possible are made aware of the value they will get once the Access to Information Bill is enacted into law. We have no doubt that this Bill once enacted into law will enable citizens to provide checks and balances to the government and further facilitates transparence in the way public institutions and resources are managed. This process needs input from every concerned citizen for purposes of legitimacy and monitoring of progress”.
In conclusion, JCTR would like to suggest that the PF government could do more to assert leadership in tabling the Access to Information Bill to Parliament. Essentially this is a right that has ripened since the 1990s. The Ministry of Justice particularly could play a highly significant and timely role, in affirming the importance of access to information as a human right, and in elaborating its basic contours. We call upon the government to expedite the process and give the Zambian people the long awaited AtoI law as it is their basic human rights. This law will benefit everyone irrespective of their status including even those serving in government today. JCTR would like to allay the insinuation by government aligned voices that the Access to Information (ATI) is restricted to media players but that it is a vehicle through which citizens will participate in the governance and decision making processes.
Media statement issued by:
Faith and Justice Programme of the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection- JCTR- Lusaka.
