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| National |
| Namisa launches campaign |
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by
Ellen Lusinje, 14 October 2004
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11:53:34
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The National Media Institute for Southern Africa (Namisa) this morning launches the access to information bill campaign in Blantyre.
Namisa vice chairman Mc Donald Chapalapata said Wednesday the launch will be attended by government officials, journalists and other stakeholders.
He said after the launch, Namisa will conduct three regional sensitisation workshops, starting with the Southern Region tomorrow at Alendo Hotel and another in Lilongwe and Mzuzu the following weekends.
“We are consulting widely and getting inputs from stakeholders and we will also discuss the process of taking the sensitisation campaign to the grassroots,” said Chapalapata
He said Namisa thought of advocating for the bill because although journalists have freedom of expression, there is need for them to access information.
“The Constitution provides for a bill of rights which includes access to information but we had no legislation to facilitate this process and that is why we are coming up with the bill,” said Chapalapata.
He said freedom of expression would not be complete without the press accessing information easily.
Chapalapata also said the draft bill provides that every person shall have the right to access information which is under the control of a public authority and even private entities as long as that information is of public interest.
“The draft bill also calls for the establishment of the Public Information Commission which will among other things, train public authority employees on the scope and importance of freedom of information, procedures for disclosing information and maintenance of records,” said Chapalapata.
He also said the commission would have powers to order disclosure of any information in accordance with the law.
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