By 
A Good Governance and Human Rights Advocate, Wesley Miyanda, says failure to repeal the Public Order Act by the current Administration will affect the effective application of the Access To Information Law.
Miyanda noted that it would also continue to affect Freedom of the press as well as work against some elements in the Bill of Rights under the Constitution.
He said this in a statement issued in Lusaka on Tuesday.
“Kudos to President, Haakainde Hichilema for finally signing the ATI Bill into law as one of his government’s testimonies to the law reforms promised to the people of Zambia during campaigns,” Miyanda stated.
He noted that the President assented to the Bill during his end of year Press Conference in Lusaka, making a significant step towards transparency and accountability.
Miyanda, however, emphasized that it was imperative for citizens to know that the ATI law would now ease the accessibility of information of public nature.
“This is from both public and relevant private institutions by the general citizenry with less interference from government,” he stated.
Miyanda said the law was meant to benefit current and future generations by bringing about positive flow of information in enhancing democracy and good governance.
He noted that the law would be the backbone of media freedom, which had not been effective enough to protect the journalists from political or public harassment.
“It will now allow them to access necessary information from the public and other institutions,” Miyanda observed.
He stated that Zambians had all the reasons to salute the United Party for National Development government for delivering the law in two years of being in power.
Miyanda noted that previous governments had tried to push ATI Bill into Parliament for debates, but unfortunately ended up throwing it out.
“Zambians need to take keen interest in reading through the national Constitution just to have some basic understanding and tend to appreciate the significance of these signed laws,” Miyanda stated.
He said the Constitution was a public document which should be accessed by every Citizen.
WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.
Comments