Why we need the Freedom of Information Act

Being a “good” journalist is hard. I must confess that I nearly quit journalism every year while in my early career. My poor family have been up and down with some of the decisions I have made or threatened to make (such as pursuing certain stories). 

The job demands you to disregard self and other aspects of your life. Despite the glory and drama shown on televisions, the reality is very different. The pressure can be immense, the work load punishing, and the thanks for the sacrifice, well, obsolete. I hate the attitude of ‘well it is going to be well with you because this piece of legislation or that will make your job easier'. We should always be striving to make the system better, more efficient and smarter.

I therefore, totally agree with information minister, Dr. Joseph Katema when he says “real democracy and development can be elusive without access to information”. However, what the journalistic experience has taught me is that, it is easier said than done.

The PF had promised to run an open government that would be subject to scrutiny by the media and the Zambian people. They went further to say they were going to allow media freedom by granting nationwide coverage to some of the private radio stations that had been in the business for a long time. Failure to implement these promises has led to a feeling of nostalgia, anger and sometimes regret. 

After winning the ideological war and subsequent elections in 2011, all that remained was to watch the orderly transition from the 'perceived' corrupt MMD to an 'open' PF government. Problems that have emerged in the constitution-making process, scraping of radio licences for nationwide coverage and a standoff with civil society over the NGO Act, have changed the initial sense of euphoria to guarded optimism. The transition experience has taught us that, while the commitment to change may be professed quickly, change itself comes slowly.

 

There is no doubt that the free-flow of information is an added incentive to a free and democratic society. People need to know what is going on in government in the same way that government ought to know what goes on in society. That way government would be in a position to come up with effective policies that would bring about positive change. 

I hope what the minister said is what he and his government genuinely believes in. Yes, you do give statements from time to time, but what we need is more and better engagement with you so that people can know what you're doing. I think that is what every journalist and the people of this nation want too. 

As you rightly said “real democracy and development can be elusive without access to information”. And this is what is happening right now. By enacting the Freedom of Information Act, you will make our job easier.