Zambian Access to Information Bill ‘Leaked’

By Kalata News,

Lusaka – ZAMBIA’s much awaited Access to Information (ATI) bill has finally being shared. The Bill both targets to open access to information held by both private bodies as well as public bodies.

Zambia’s Information Minister Cornelius Mweetwa announced that Government was finally taking the proposed bill to Parliament.  The Civil Society Coalition on the ATI have announced that they are taking the weekend off to study the Bill as according to them, it contains information that they need to study before engaging with the public.

“The ATI Coalition has decided to postpone the press briefing to Monday or Tuesday next week. The Coalition has noted that the Bill being circulated has some provisions that raise serious concern in relation to the objects of the Bill. The Coalition needs more time to do the following: 1. Confirm that the Bill being circulated is genuine; 2. Review the Bill comprehensively; and 3. Prepare and present a comprehensive position,” the CSOs stated.

Mthoniswa Banda, an ATI advocate also posted “Of the ATI – I have read the whole draft bill and it gives me shivers. The civil servants have butchered this document and made it another danger to both private and national security. The Bill makes all information accessible including infor held by PRIVATE entities! The ATI is supposed to be access to information held by public bodies or private bodies funded by public funds/Taxes (like those audited by the Auditor General).”

He adds, “As one in the information sector and making cash from collecting and analysing data, giving out information willy-nilly is against my business. Secondly Article 31 (or is it verse 31) allows for information to be denied when one thinks the demand is frivolous and vexatious! What does this really mean? It means Govt is giving a carte blanche to every one to deny data based on these two words.  Even commercial entities can refuse demand for information as long as it hurts their commercial interests.”

It is left to be seen therefore if this Bill will be better than other attempts at ATI as seen in Zimbabwe, Angola or in Ghana.

For a poor country like Zambia whose unemployment levels and poverty are high, Zambians need access to critical information, information that they can use to develop businesses, find wealth and discover better ways of creating value in their lives.