GOVERNMENT URGED TO SPEED UP ENACTMENT OF ATI BILL
PANOS Institute of Southern Africa (PSAf) has called on the new dawn administration to quickly fast track the process of the enactment of the Access To Information (ATI) Bill.
Executive Director Vusumuzi Sifile has said this would allow citizens to partic ipate fully in the development of the country without any hurdles.
Mr Sifile has observed that without people accessing public information, it would be difficult to enforce trans parency and accountability among office bearers hence allowing corruption to thrive.
Speaking in Livingstone during the media laws/ policy information session organ ised by Open Spaces Zambia through Panos yesterday, Mr Sifile stated that his organisa tion has embarked on engage ments with civil societies and media personnel as a way of getting submissions on what they feel should be done to see access to information enacted sooner rather than later.
And, Livingstone District
Commissioner Eunice Nawa observed that access to infor mation is an essential tool in the fight against corruption.
This was contained in a speech read for her by the District Administrative Officer Clement Mwanza.
Ms Nawa said this was so because it increases dem ocratic accountability and transparency, identifying, and uncovering corrupt practices and enabling participation in the development of anti-cor ruption policy and law.
She said effective access to information can only help to prevent corruption and im prove public services and ac countability if citizens and civ il society know how to use it.