By Edwin Mauluka, Catholic Journalist, Lilongwe
Much anticipated ‘Access to Information Bill’ ready for the upcoming Meeting of Parliament.
Principle Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Tourism and Culture, Justin Saidi revealed this during the Catholic Church’s commemorations for the Communication Day at Mtima Woyera Parish in the Arch Diocese of Lilongwe.
“Well, we have gone through all the process that are supposed to be followed and what remain is simply taking it to the upcoming Meeting of Parliament” said Saidi
Saidi who attended this year’s Communication Day as a guest of honor at Mtima Woyera Parish was responding to the call made by General Secretary for Episcopal Conference of Malawi Fr. Henry Saindi who asked government to speed the process for the enactment of bill into law to help Journalists easily access to Government information.
“In any country that this has been approved as a law, it is a useful tool for those who are working as Journalists because then, they have possibility of accessing important information that can also help in the development of the country; but without sweating for this information or without having to do as if they are begging for this information.” Said Fr. Saindi
Currently in Malawi he said “those who have the information which has to be disseminated to people at times they don’t serve Journalists.”
“Access to Information Bill if it is turned into a Law, will help the Journalists to access information which they require in order to disseminate to the entire nation. So it is an important tool”.