Malawi Parliament has been urged by civil society organisations to reject the adulterated Access to Information Bill (ATI) when government tables it in Parliament. Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) and Centre for Development of People (Cedep) said in a statement made available to Nyasa Times expressing their “disappointment” at the “undemocratic elements” in the […]
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, […]
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) public relations director, Alekeni Menyani MP, has faulted President Peter Mutharika for debating the Access to Information (ATI) bill in public and offering amendments before parliament. Mutharika is on record saying ATI law should not apply retrospectively and that it should only focus on information generated after its adoption. President Mutharika […]
Malawi President Peter Mutharika has been accused the Centre for Law and Democracy (CLD), Canadian-based non-governmental organisation, for working to weaken the Access to Information (ATI) law by demanding that it should not apply restrospectively and that it should only focus on information generated after its adoption. President Mutharika cited two clauses in the Bill […]
As the debate rages on the Access to Information Bill(AIT) I feel compelled to contribute to the debate. The AIT is vital to the deepening and consolidation of genuine democracy and economic prosperity in Malawi. I, therefore, listened with keen interest to a broadcast by the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation(MBC) of the meeting between the the […]
President Peter Mutharika on Thursday vowed to veto an Access to Information (ATI) bill if it goes with what he described as inconsistencies, rendering the three hour audience with media owners and managers useless. Leader of the media owners and managers, Professor Chijere Chirwa, who is also the chairman of Media Council of Malawi said […]
President Arthur Peter Mutharika has called on the media in the country to uphold to their professional ethics in their work while government continues to respect their independence as the fourth arm of a democracy. The President said this on Thursday at Kamuzu Palace when he met media owners in the country who paid him a courtesy […]
Justice minister Samuel Tembenu has said the Access to Information bill has finally been submitted to parliament, just weeks before the IMF team jets into the country and parliament meets for mid year budget review. Tembenu’s comments should give a sigh of relief to proponents of the bill, including National Media Institute for Southern Africa […]
Finance minister Goodall Gondwe says Access to Information bill (ATI) will be tabled in parliament February because it is part of conditionalities that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has set for Malawi to qualify for the Breston Wood’s extended credit facility. The announcement gives Malawians a sigh of relief although it is unlikely that the […]
Malawi has finally lost out an K80 billion European Union aid package after the government failed to pass the Access to Information Bill (ATI) whose deadline is expiring midnight on December 31, 2015. Minister of Information Jappie Mhango echoed President Peter Mutharika on Wednesday that government will not be pushed to pass the bill. “The […]
Michael Usi, renowned playwright and actor has told President Peter Mutharika to fire his cabinet and top government officials, saying they have failed Malawians. Usi, popularly known as Manganya said this in an interview with Zodiak on Sunday. “Malawi has no future, Malawians do not even know if they have a leader in control, we […]
State House is yet to respond to media body, Misa –Malawi which insinuated President Peter Mutharika lied when he said one of the inconsistencies in the Access to Information Bill include a clause that says no parliament in future shall repeal the law. Legal advisor to Misa-Malawi, Mandala Mambulasa recently told a newspaper that there […]
Having listened to the Press Conference President Prof. Peter Mutharika held on Tuesday, 14th December, 2015, at State House, to brief the nation on what transpired during his recent official trips abroad, we at Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) and Centre for Development of People (Cedep), found it imperative to issue a reaction […]
President Peter Mutharika has for the first time spelt out inconsistencies in the Access to Information bill draft, saying the draft bill wants to cover issues iretospectively – which happened before it becomes into effect – saying that is inconsistent with Commonwealth law. Mutharika also faulted the draft bill for its clause which says ‘no […]
Information minister Jappie Mhango says government will not be stampeded into passing the Access to Information bill into law under pressure from donors. Mhango said this Thursday during an interview with Capital Radio’s Day Break Malawi program after a journalist told him that the delay in passing the bill is holding K80 billion in European […]
Government has come in handy to assure Malawians that it would make wide consultations before the Access to Information Bill is tabled in parliament. Minister of Information Jappie Mhango told a local radio station the cabinet committee on legal affairs is now set to meet. “They could not meet whilst parliament was in session but […]
Adventist church relief arm, the Adventist Relief Agency (ADRA) through its deputy director of ADRA Michael Usi has severely criticised the government for its failure to table the Access to Information bill, saying the government is creating a breeding ground for corruption. Usi says the government is insenstive to the plight of Malawians, most of […]
Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation(CHRR), held a workshop for media practitioners in the country on the role of access to information in the fight against corruption. CHRR are implementing the project with funding from Africa Freedom For Information Freedom. Addressing over 25 journalists who attended the workshop in Lilongwe on Wednesday, executive Director, for […]