Speech Analyst Mile Sichula …writes on  Happy struggling journalists 2017

Zambia’s Speech Analyst Mike Sichula with Special assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda

Speech Analyst Mile Sichula
…writes on
Happy struggling journalists
We have come a long way and we are far from our desired destiny.
Our destiny will and it can never be free from conflict with those who want to hide information from citizens.
It is time for the media to adapt to unfriendly authorities than to complain because those with power to cage and brutalise Journalists seem to be happy with the status quo.
Remember the saying, there is no sweet without sweat. To inform, educate and entertain requires and demands hard work.
Imagine a World without Journalists, just think about no News!
The theme for this year indeed is timely, the media needs critical thinking to dodge our enemies who are after true and factual reporting. History of Access to information (ATI Law in Zambia:

Former Vice-President Enoch Kavindele during the Interdenominational Thanks giving Church Service at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka on February 22,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA — with Donald Miselo in Lusaka, Zambia.

1. January 2003, Vice President Enock Kavindele: Government needs sufficient search before the ATI Bill is tabled in Parliament.
2. 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.
3. 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.

President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Dr. Guy Scott, and Dr. Charlotte Harland Scott, in the Blue Room during a U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit dinner at the White House, Aug.

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

Dr. Guy Scott with Dr. Charlotte Scott

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
Happy World Press Freedom day again Colleagues….!
03-05-2017. Cell: 0977 719061 ….published on Page 5 of the authoritative Rainbow Newspaper May 2017www.rainbownewszambia.com / www.derricksinjela.blogspot.com 
Zambian Developmental Media Alliance (ZADEMA) and Zambian Children Young People and Women in Development (ZCYPWD)

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