The Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa advocate Pansy Tlakula has expressed optimism that Malawi will have legislation on Access to Information (ATI) before the end of the year.
The rapporteur said this in Lilongwe on May 21, 2015 during a press conference to wind up her five days advocacy mission to Malawi.
“After so many years of hard work, am optimistic that this time the bill will come to Parliament…I have met the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Information, Speaker of Parliament…and the message is the same. There is commitment…and let me also remind you that his Excellency Professor Peter Mutharika promised in his campaign that he will make sure Access to Information bill is passed and I know he will live by his promise,” she said.
The rapporteur implored on the media to hold government accountable on the promise made on ATI.
The rapporteur, who arrived in the country on Sunday in the company of ATI experts from the Open Society Foundation and the Centre for Human Rights of the University of Pretoria, met senior government officials including the Minister of Justice Samuel Tembenu, Minister of Information Tourism and Culture Kondwani Nankhumwa, the Speaker of the National Assembly Richard Msowoya and members of various Parliamentary Committees, the Law Commission, Malawi Human Rights Commission, Ombudsman, United Nations Resident Coordinator and civil society actors working on ATI.
The high level advocacy mission by the rapporteur was timely and imperative in the country’s efforts to have legislation on ATI. The mission has not only added impetus to local efforts for Malawi to have legislation on ATI but also demonstrated the importance of ATI in promoting good governance and citizen participation in the democratic process.
The special rapporteur was appointed pursuant to a Resolution of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights as adopted at the African Commission’s 38th Ordinary Session on 5th December, 2005.
Among others, the major focus of the rapporteur’s work has been to encourage AU Member States to adopt Access to Information laws which conform to regional and international standards. To that end, the Special Rapporteur led the process for the development of a Model Law on ATI for Africa to assist Member States in the adoption of ATI Laws that are in line with international principles and standards.
The development of the Model Law was launched on April 12 during the 53 Ordinary Session of the African Commission which took place from 9 to 23 April 2013 in Banjul, Gambia.
Malawi is one of the country’s that has used the Model Law in drafting its ATI Bill..
SIGNED
THOM KHANJE
CHAIRPERSON
For more Information contact Thom Khanje on +265 888879329 or email thomkhanje@yahoo.com or Aubrey Chikungwa, National Director on +265 99932 73 11 or email info@misamalawi.org
