CHAKWERA TO PUSH FOR ACCESS TO INFORMATION BILL

With a day to go for the official opening of the 46th Parliamentary session in Lilongwe which will be presided over by President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, Opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, who is also leader of opposition has said he will press for the enactment for the Access to Information Bill.

Chakwera said this in Lilongwe on Wednesday when he had an audience with members of the Bwaila Media Club.

Recently President Mutharika told Malawians in Salima that his government is doing whatever it can to make sure that the Bill is tabled in the upcoming Parliamentary session scheduled for Friday.

Mutharika’s remarks was in sharp contrast with Minister of Information, Tourism and Civic Education Jappie Mhango flanked by Minister of Transport and Public Works who told the Press that the Bill is not ready for tabling in this sitting of Parliament.

On his part, Chakwera assured BMC members that he will push for the enactment of the bill.

“The honourable Leader of Government Business in the House has said one thing, and His Excellency has said another. Who and what to believe, no-one knows.

“This bill, in my view, is long overdue and we cannot afford to approach its tabling as if we are playing ping-pong,” said Chakwera.

He added: “This bill, in case you are not aware, is a potential Game Changer in promoting transparency and accountability in Malawi and in the fight against grand corruption if passed. If passed, very little will be hidden under the guise of confidentiality.”

Chakwera said once the bill is approved by Parliament Malawians will be given information that can empower them to make informed decisions,
distinguish propaganda from facts and to hold leaders accountable.

“First, due to technological advances and increased awareness levels and sophistication, even if a government wanted to hide or distort information, the truth – come what may – eventually comes out.

“Therefore it is senseless to keep procrastinating the bill on the pretext of “fine-tuning”. How can anyone know what to “fine-tune” before the bill has been debated?” wondered Chakwera.

Chakwera has urged ALL Malawians who aspire for transparency and accountability in Malawi, and want the era of corruption with impunity that has been Malawi’s oppressor for many years to end, to demand that the Bill be tabled without further delay.