Malawi govt ‘fine tuning’ Information Bill -Minister

Government says the much touted Access to Information Bill is being fine tuned before bring it to parliament.

Leader of the House Francis Kasaila, who is also minister of transport, said at a news conference in Lilongwe on Monday that the cabinet is yet to finalise looking at the bill before it is passed on to parliament for passing into law.

“The procedures are yet to be finalised,” said Kasaila.

He said it would take four weeks for the cabinet to finalise looking at the bill.

President Peter Mutharika, in his campaign promises, said he would ensure the bill is passed as soon as je would get into the presidency just as he would get a helicopter and visit his brother’s dream project -Shire Zambezi Waterway – which has since met resistance from Mozambique which controls the Indian Ocean.

Media body, Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa-Malawi) chair Thom Khanje is yet to react on the government’s announcement on the matter.

Kasaila said there will be eight bills carried over from the last seating of parliament.

Leader of the House said the minister of Finance Goodall Gondwe will present the state of the economy.

MCP spokesman AlekenI Menyani said the party is “doubtful “ that Information Minister Jappie Mhnango “will enhance democracy and bring to Parliament the Access to Information Bill when his tactics are grounded in dirty politics and deliberate misrepresentation of public information.”

He said: “ It is a shame that at the height of reforms the MBC (public brodacster) is classically being abused, considering that it runs on a public purse to such an extent,” Menyani said.

Parliament meets from November 6 to December 4.