GOVT TRASHES MEDIA REPORTS ON THE STATUS OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION BILL

Minister of Information Tourism and Civic Education has trashed media reports indicating that government is not ready to table in Parliament Access to Information Bill during the November 2015 sitting.

On Monday, Jappie Mhango flanked by Francis Kasaila, Minister of Transport and Public works told the press that tabling of the bill will delay prompting the media to speculate that the government is not committed in seeing the bill passed.

Reacting to the claims in a statement made available to FaceofMalawi, Mhango said President Professor Arthur Peter mutharika is committed in seeing this Bill passed.

“The fact of the matter is that the processing of the Bill is at a VERY advanced stage, and everything is being done in keeping with the President’s commitment to the people of Malawi.

“It is worth reminding the public that passing of the Access to Information legislation was part of the campaign promises of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which was given the mandate to govern. As such passing of that Bill is one of the priorities of Government,” reads in part the statement.

Meanwhile the government is scheduled to table 8 bills during this sitting of Parliament.