Access to information law gazetted
The much-anticipated Access to Information (ATI) bill, which seeks to compel public and private entities to proactively and promptly make information available, was signed into law by President Hage Geingob on 29 November 2022 and gazetted a month later on 28 December. However, local civil society is pressuring the government to fast-track the implementation of the law, fearing bureaucracy and budget constraints could delay the move for years.
Director of the Institute of Public Policy and Research (IPPR) Graham Hopwood, a long-time advocate of this law, commended Geingob for signing this much-awaited piece of legislation into law, which he believes will transform transparency in the country.
“We really want to see the minister of finance commit funds for the operationalisation of the ATI law, the whistle-blower law and the Witness Protection Act in the budget next month. This will demonstrate that there is some political will on ATI and tackling corruption.
“If they don't feature in the budget, it means there will be further foot-dragging and government will be accused of only being interested in rhetoric, not action.”
The contentious Whistle-Blower Protection Act was gazetted six years ago, however, it has yet to be operationalised.
Potential to transform
The ATI bill, which was first tabled in parliament in June 2020 and referred to the parliamentary standing committee on information and communication technology, was eventually passed through parliament in 2022.
“It's encouraging that the president signed this long-awaited piece of legislation into law. It has the potential to transform the information environment for the better because civil servants will have to be proactive in releasing information and will have fewer credible excuses for delaying the release of information,” Hopwood said.
“In addition, the private sector will also have to be more open when it comes to responding to information requests.”
Audrin Mathe, the executive director of the ministry of information and communication technology, this week confirmed that the ATI bill was signed by President Geingob.
“We are currently working on the implementation of the law and to determine when it will come into force,” he said.
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Director of the Institute of Public Policy and Research (IPPR) Graham Hopwood, a long-time advocate of this law, commended Geingob for signing this much-awaited piece of legislation into law, which he believes will transform transparency in the country.
“We really want to see the minister of finance commit funds for the operationalisation of the ATI law, the whistle-blower law and the Witness Protection Act in the budget next month. This will demonstrate that there is some political will on ATI and tackling corruption.
“If they don't feature in the budget, it means there will be further foot-dragging and government will be accused of only being interested in rhetoric, not action.”
The contentious Whistle-Blower Protection Act was gazetted six years ago, however, it has yet to be operationalised.
Potential to transform
The ATI bill, which was first tabled in parliament in June 2020 and referred to the parliamentary standing committee on information and communication technology, was eventually passed through parliament in 2022.
“It's encouraging that the president signed this long-awaited piece of legislation into law. It has the potential to transform the information environment for the better because civil servants will have to be proactive in releasing information and will have fewer credible excuses for delaying the release of information,” Hopwood said.
“In addition, the private sector will also have to be more open when it comes to responding to information requests.”
Audrin Mathe, the executive director of the ministry of information and communication technology, this week confirmed that the ATI bill was signed by President Geingob.
“We are currently working on the implementation of the law and to determine when it will come into force,” he said.
[email protected]
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