Second Republic initiatives enabling citizens to easily access information

Harare (New Ziana) -The Second Republic is implementing various initiatives to ensure citizens have access to information as it is a vital tool for economic development, a Cabinet Minister has said.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere made the remarks at a function to commemorate International Day for Universal Access to Information which the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) held in the capital on Thursday.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated 28 September of every year as Universal Access to Information Day in order to raise awareness on the importance of access to information.

Muswere said the government is supporting access to information through various initiatives including legislation, deliberate policies, licensing of several community radio stations, among several other initiatives.

“The development of the Freedom of Information Act is meant to set parameters involved in making sure that information is available to the citizenry of this country.

“The development of the Data and Cyber Protection Act is also a legislative step in ensuring safety and security in accessing and imparting information in Information Communication Technology (ICT). The opening up of airwaves, the re-adjustment and alignment of the licensing tool for both the print, electronic and also the coming on board of other radio and television stations – all these are giant steps the Second Republic has taken in order to ensure that citizens of this country have access to information,” he said.
He said as a former ICT Minister, he had directive and mandate from the President that the Ministry should develop a new ICT policy.

“I can safely assure you that the policy went through all committees and cabinet approval and what is only left is the launch.

“But the whole development which takes care of the convergence between ICT and broadcasting has been well taken care of. The importance and the role of the Fourth Industrial revolution in the context of access to information, and in the context of operations of the media industry -all that is well taken care of,” he said.

Muswere added that the government was aware of difficulties that the disabled had in accessing information in the modern ICT world and that has been looked at through provision of assistive technology for that group.

He said the growth of the media sector in the country means it has a big role to play in achieving universal access to information.

“The media has a big role to inform and educate the people of Zimbabwe about the steps that can be taken if any local authority is not giving them information which it is constitutionally mandated to because it is their right as well.

“I am happy that through presentations made by the Zimbabwe Media Commission, I have noticed that there are no challenges in accessing information across all government agencies.

“You are also all aware that in the old dispensation there were no post Cabinet briefings that you now witness after every Cabinet meeting. This is because we take access to information seriously and endeavour to ensure that deliberations made in Cabinet are public to the people of Zimbabwe,” he said.

The occasion saw MISA launching the Transparency Assessment Report and the Data Authorities Report.

The Transparent Assessment Report, which assessed challenges citizens experience in accessing information from public bodies, saw the Zimbabwe National Water Authority winning the ‘Golden Key’ award for their open-door policy of imparting requested data.

The Lupane Local Board got the ‘Golden Padlock’ award for the third time in a row for being secretive and unwilling to help with required information.

New Ziana