Political analyst claims ATI bill meant to hoodwink international community

James Musonda, a political analyst, has claimed that the reported tabling of Access to Information (ATI) bill to parliament is designed to hoodwink the international community into believing democracy still exists in Zambia.

Musonda made the claim in a statement on Saturday saying, “the timing for the tabling of the ATI bill is awkward because it is being done at a time when key leaders are facing arrests on trumped up charges.”

He accused the ruling United Party for National UPND) of destroying the Patriotic PF) to entrench dictatorship in Zambia.

Read more: Coalition lists expectations from Access To Information Bill, plan public review of document

“This is a screen saver, they want the international community to believe that Zambia is still a democracy while the opposite is happening,” Musonda said.

He added that it was a shame that the UPND had reversed the democracy that had existed for a long time.

Musonda claimed that every opposition was scared to voice out for fear of facing jail.

“It is shameful that the UPND has reversed democracy in two years, we cannot have this kind of a situation,” he lamented.

On Thursday, Information and Media Minister Cornelius Mweetwa announced the tabling of the ATI bill to parliament which has reportedly appeared on the order paper.

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