Parliament commits to passing ATI
Parliament through its Committee on Media and Communications has committed to having the long-awaited Access to Information (ATI) Bill enacted into law.
The pledge was made at a working dinner Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) Malawi Chapter hosted for the committee at Sunbird Lilongwe.
Misa-Malawi chairperson Anthony Kasunda said the gathering was important as members of Parliament (MPs) are instrumental in the passing of the Access to Information law Malawians have been awaiting for a long time.
Explained Kasunda: “Access to information is a fundamental right that underpins all other rights. For example, freedom of expression and thought inherently relies on the availability of adequate information to make informed opinions and decisions.
“We need information to make informed decisions and choices and what really defines a democracy is not mere elections every five years, but the degree to which the people, the citizens, participate in the democratic process.”
Misa-Malawi has been championing the campaign for the passing of the law since 2005 when the first draft bill on ATI was developed.
However, the process slowed down in 2009 when government said there was need for the bill to be supported by a policy before being presented in Parliament.
In January this year, government approved a policy on ATI and has since also showed commitment to facilitating the tabling of the ATI Bill.
In his reaction, Parliamentary Committee on Media and Communications chairperson Sam Kawale said Parliament is ready to have the bill enacted into law as it benefits all people beyond journalists as many people are meant to believe.
The dinner was held with support from Tilitonse through the two year-grant given to Misa-Malawi to, among other things, publicise contents of the ATI Bill.
