As the world celebrates international Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI), MISA Malawi calls on local councils to embrace a culture of proactive disclosure to achieve transparency, accountability and active citizen participation in development and governance process.
In order to raise awareness on the importance of access to information, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 28 September as International Day for Universal Access to Information.
The theme for 2024 IDUAI is, ‘Mainstreaming Access to Information and Participation in the Public Sector’.
The theme recognises that different government institutions produce, receive, and hold public information and data and this significant role places such institutions at the heart of access to information obligations. Disclosure and dissemination of such information are catalysts for good governance practices and prerequisites to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In Malawi, the legal and policy landscape encourages citizen participation in the development and overall governance space, but citizens cannot participate in decision making and development processes without access to credible and relevant information.
Due to decentralisation, billions of Kwacha in the national budget and funds from development partners are channeled to local councils. Most development initiatives are now decided at local level, necessitating local councils to be more transparent and accountable to the public.
However, most city, town, municipal and district councils are yet to embrace and mainstream the Access to Information (ATI) Act of 2017 in their operations and many Malawians remain in the dark on the development initiatives being implemented in their areas.
Most local councils are yet to appoint or designate information officers in line with the ATI Act and some of them do not have proactive means of disclosing information such as indigenous systems, websites or social media platforms.
As we cast the spotlight on mainstreaming access to information and participation in the public sector and as we clock four years since the operationalisation of the ATI Act in Malawi, it is unfortunate to note that a culture of secrecy persists in public institutions and local councils remain closed to the public.
MISA Malawi would like to urge government to be strict and decisive in ensuring that all public institutions are adhering to the principles of access to information and are able to understand that the information they hold belongs to Malawians.
For feedback
MISA Malawi Chairperson Golden Matonga
Cell: +265 99 616 9705 or email goldenmatonga@gmail.com
MISA Malawi National Director Aubrey Chikungwa
Cell: +265 999 327 311 or email info@misamalawi.org
