Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
OYV Executive Director Guess Nyirenda
The Operation Young Vote (OYV) says the pronouncement by the Minister of Justice Given Lubinda that the Access to Information (ATI) Bill is ready is hope rising.
OYV Executive Director Guess Nyirenda says the Minister, must, on this particular announcement not only be commended and applauded but also be challenged and encouraged to ensure that his progressive statement gives life to the ATI law.
Mr. Nyirenda appreciates the move and efforts by Mr. Lubinda and President Edgar Lungu but is also alive at the fact that some sections of the Patriotic Front and Government including Ministers are keen at frustrating the ATI from seeing the light of day.
He says the utterances by some PF and Government officials that the ATI fail with the failure of the referendum on the Bill of Rights and that considering the matter was not to be made priority.
He hopes that the Ministry and Minister of Information and Broadcasting will not depart from the stance taken by the counterpart at Ministry of Justice.
Mr. Nyirenda demands that the ATI Bill must be availed to and shared with all stakeholders, published in the Government Gazette as per the requirement of the law and then tabled in the very next sitting of parliament to avoid further procrastinating on this inevitable legislation.
The OYV Executive Director has since called on all stakeholders to hold hands together especially at the stage the ATI has reached.