ACCESS TO INFORMATION BILL’s FUTURE IN LIMBO: MUTHARIKA ADAMANT ON THE BILL

Dreams of Malawians of having Access to Information Bill (ATI) passed into law as soon as possible is slowly dying out as President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika has hinted that he will only pass the bill once all inconsistencies are rectified.

Mutharika said this at Kamuzu Palace in the capital Lilongwe during the interface meeting with media owners, managers, and the Media Council of Malawi and MISA Malawi chapter officials.

In his speech, Mutharika said he will not approve the bill once it is passed by Parliament with the inconsistencies noted by the Executive.

“I have even noted that our development partners are using it as another conditionality of donor aid although it was not the reason why they stopped aid. Other countries without this Bill are receiving budgetary support.

“Let me repeat that we are not going to pass the Bill to appease anyone. We will make this Bill into Law because I believe it is good for the country; and because it is good for access to information to be legally protected and regulated,” said Mutharika.

On his part,Media Council of Malawi Chairman Chijere Chirwa who spoke on behalf of media owners urged Mutharika to make it public the inconsistencies noted in the bill, saying this will make Malawians appreciate it.

Turning to media house, Mutharika called on the Malawian media fraternity to report responsibly as a contribution to the social economic development of the country.

Mutharika said negative reporting is bad for the country as it hurts people for nothing and gives a negative image of the country.

“In a mature democracy, I believe the media should police its ethics and discipline itself. You must be your own watchdog. I know that the media in Malawi does not write about itself; it does not criticise itself. As I speak, a lot of organisations (including international organisations) are worried about the conduct and integrity of some reporters but there is no reporter who can make that a headline – just to illustrate the point about responsibility and accountability,” said Mutharika.

In attendance was the National Publications Limited (NPL) Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Alfred Ntonga, ZBS, MD Gospel Kazako, Media Council of Malawi Chairman Chijere Chirwa, MISA Malawi Chapter Chairman Thom Kanje, Times Group Managing Director Leonard Chikadya, Dalisto Nkunika of Malawi Institute of Journalism (MIJ) among others.