Malawi Stresses Access to Info for Good Governance
During the World Press Freedom Day celebrations in Mangochi, Minister of Information Moses Kunkuyu reassured the public of the government's commitment to transparency.
LILONGWE, Malawi— Authorities in Malawi say the Access to Information law is critical for maintaining ethics and integrity in the public sector, writes Fletcher Chiponda.
Although the law was passed and became operational in September 2020, some public offices, especially in district councils, are reluctant to disclose information, concerning the Parliamentary Committee on Media.
"As a committee, we plan to invite the National Local Government Finance Committee to help ensure funding for councils so they can be educated on the act," said Susan Dosi, the committee's chairperson.
Davie Major, a journalist from Umunthu FM, praised the Access to Information Act, noting, "Council funds can be tracked easily to monitor their usage and daily operations if they adhere to the act by providing accessible information to the public."
Felix Washon, Communication Manager of the Malawi Red Cross Society, emphasized, "Integrity begins with sharing information; people should have easy access to information without obstacles."
During the World Press Freedom Day celebrations in Mangochi, Minister of Information Moses Kunkuyu reassured the public of the government's commitment to transparency.
"We understand the importance of sharing information. Transparency is vital for building trust between the government and the people, which is why we passed the Access to Information Act. We will ensure its effective implementation so that people can seek information whenever needed," Kunkuyu stated.
Efforts to fully implement the act include initiatives by various public sectors like the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC), which has been training Information Officers from different public offices to uphold ethics and integrity in providing information to the public.