Sunday, May 22, 2022
  • About Us
  • ImagiNATION
  • Adverts
  • Rate Card
  • Contact Us
The Nation Online
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Columns
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Columns
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home News National News

MHRC supports calls for more consultation on ATI

by George Singini
02/10/2020
in National News
3 min read
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare on LinkedinLinkedinShare via Email

Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has supported calls to put on hold implementation of the Access to Information (ATI) Act, saying there are gaps that need to be addressed.

MHRC has since written Minister of Information Gospel Kazako, who appointed September 30 as the commencement date for the law, to shift the date to November 30 to give room for consultations.

Kazako: MHRC was part of every step

In an interview on Wednesday, MHRC chairperson Reverend Patrick Semphere said as an authority mandated to oversee implementation of the law, MHRC is concerned with the sense of understanding of regulations among stakeholders.

He said the guidelines were not widely publicised for stakeholders input and as a result many do not fully understand them; hence, the need to subject them to further scrutiny.

Said Semphere: “It’s been clear in our interactions with various stakeholders that that kind of consultation was not adequate. This would make it difficult for us as a commission to oversee the implementation.

“We would be dealing with gaps that could have been taken care of at this early stage. Our request to the minister is essentially to consider that we fill those gaps and ensure that we move together.”

Semphere (C): Consultations were not adequate

He also lamented the lack of information officers in some institutions, and underfunding for implementation of the Act. Government allocated K20 million for the operationalisation of ATI instead of K166 million required,.

He said MHRC resubmitted its budget to Parliament and is waiting to see if there will be consideration.

But the minister in a separate interview said government will engage MHRC to appreciate its concerns.

“We will engage them to appreciate the sort of consultation they would want to be conducted. But as far as government is concerned, all processes, including stakeholder consultations, were done and MHRC was part of every step,” said Kazako.

He further said the law has been operationalised and Malawi should celebrate as the law will help the country conduct its business in a proper manner.

When contacted, Media Institute for Southern Africa (Misa) Malawi chairperson Teresa Ndanga said the Ministry of Information was the right authority to respond to the concerns MHRC has raised.

She said: “As a stakeholder and one of the organisations that advocated for this law, we will give ourselves time to reflect on the concerns being raised to see if there is anything that can be done.

“We will also try to seek some legal interpretation of what that means on the implementation of the access to information law.”

Among others, ATI Act provides for access to any information in the custody or under control of any information holder.

Previous Post

Chakwera returns home

Next Post

Smedi intensifies revenue generation drive

Related Posts

Left economy in tatters: Muluzi
Front Page

Malawi’s public debt now at K5.8 tn

May 21, 2022
Signed the statement: Namiwa
Front Page

Cdedi demands govt action on forex

May 21, 2022
Chakaka-Nyirenda: I recommend termination of the contracts
Front Page

AG urges cancellation of Movesa no. plate deal

May 21, 2022
Next Post
Tourists’ numbers have dropped due to Covid-19

Smedi intensifies revenue generation drive

Opinions and Columns

Layman's Reflection

New IMF programme pivotal moment for Tonse Alliance

May 21, 2022
Family Table Talk

Historical lessons on the value of forgetting

May 21, 2022
My Diary

Politics of ‘kutola chikwama’

May 21, 2022
Bottom Up

Ukraine war: Sanctions backfire?

May 21, 2022

Trending Stories

  • Mhango in action for Pirates before things turned sour

    Gaba comes up with two options

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Malawi’s public debt now at K5.8 tn

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Onesimus leaves Major One Records

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • AG urges cancellation of Movesa no. plate deal

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • RFA, Malga disagree on toll gates revenue

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Malawi-Music.com Top10

  • Values
  • Our Philosophy
  • Editorial policy
  • Advertising Policy
  • Code of Conduct
  • Plagiarism disclaimer
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use

© 2022 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Columns
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation

© 2020 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.