Govt urged to expedite the enactment of ATI bill

Journalists in the country have joined their counterparts across the world in celebrating world press freedom day under the theme “journalism under siege”.

And Zambia institute for independent media alliance [ZIIMA] vice president Jubiel Zulu has called upon the government to ensure that they enact access to information bill.

Ms. Zulu says the bill will ensure that all Zambians have access to information.

And other Journalists interviewed have appealed to government to help improve the working conditions of Journalists both in public and private media houses.

Some Journalists disclosed that government should address this during the world press freedom day which falls on 3rd may each year.

This year’s world press freedom day is being commemorated under the theme: journalism under siege.

And former Non-Governmental Gender Organisation Coordinating Council (NGOCC) executive director Engwase Mwale has urged government to expedite the processes that are need to be undertaken before the enactment of the access to information bill .

Government in march announced that it would take the access to information (ATI) bill to all the ten provinces in order to widen stakeholder consultation on the bill as well as enable concerned citizens to participate and address the perception that it is meant for the media only.

But Ms. Mwale tells q news that in as much as consultation process is important; there is need to expedite all the process that will lead to the bill finally being enacted as it is long due.