Malawi govt ready to table Information Bill – Tembenu

Government has said all is set for the tabling of the much talked controversial Access to Information bill in parliament which starts  its deliberations from Monday.

Justice minister Samuel Tembenu said the bill has been finalised as the cabinet has nodded for it to be tabled in the 193 strong House.

“The bill is ready, it will be tabled in the coming seating of parliament,” he said.

According to Tembenu, the amendment in the bill are those that the media and Malawians already know.

Thom Khanje, chairperson of National Media Institute for Southern Africa (Namisa) whose organisation vigorously and relentlessly campaigned for the law, cautiously welcomed the move.

“The government should gazette the bill so that we should know what is in the bill, Malawians should know the amendments,” he said.

Khanje said he cautiously welcomed the move to table it in parliament because in the past, the government has made false promises.

“One minister would say we are tabling the bill, another minister would say we are not. We will believe when the bill is in parliament,” Khanje said in a radio interview.

President Peter Mutharika recently told media owners and managers that there are two amendments to the bill, including a clause that could have enabled Malawians to seek information from government dating back to years before this law will be enacted.