Access to Information Bill in the pipeline

The Media High Council is currently drafting a new bill that will oblige public officials to release information to journalists. The Access to Information Bill which will also give a time limit, within which officials should release information, is expected to be in parliament at least by the end of August. According to Patrice Mulama, the MHC Executive Secretary, the new bill, if passed, will allow media practitioners in the country a no-holds-barred access to information and will also compel institutions, government officials and individuals with information of public interest to pass it on without any hesitation or risk legal sanctions. “Of course there are situations when information is considered classified and exceptional especially when it concerns national security, but where it doesn’t, it will be a responsibility of anybody to allow access to information to the media,” Mulama told The New Times yesterday. “This bill also proposes an institution to enforce the law to ensure that it contents are abided by.” Mulama further explained that the legislation will set the procedures for receiving the particular information as requested by a journalist and the period within which to get feedback. In what will be a landmark breakthrough for the Rwandan media, all custodians of information who will be found to have ‘sat’ on public information will ‘feel the pinch’ according to Mulama, because the act will be considered an offence and punishable by law. Scribes speak out Media Practitioners have for long been complaining about the culture of holding onto information, bureaucracy and a reluctant and cautious way information is released especially by government institutions. “This bill will make our work easier. Some people think information can be sat on but this is not the case. They should know it’s an obligation. This is really a positive move” said Shyaka Kanuma, the Editor in Chief of Rwanda Focus, an English weekly. Gaspard Safari, the President of the Association of Rwandan Journalists (ARJ) said that, if passed, MHC will have done a fundamental job that will see Rwandan journalists qualify to join regional and global media groupings. “It’s a landmark achievement in the media in Rwanda. If you look around in the region, it only Uganda that has this law in place, Rwanda will become the second country to have it, I don’t know how far Nairobi is so far, but there is a plan to also have one,” Safari said. “This actually means unhindered access to information and if we join these other umbrellas and groupings, it will be like killing two birds with one stone.” “This bill comes on top of the Media bill which has just been passed because it’s more detailed,” said Willy Rukundo, the acting Director General of ORINFOR, the state media organ.He said that it will guide practitioners on how to go about their duties, unlike the media bill which he said is less detailed. “It gives a wider room for manoeuvre…if it comes out, it could assist us in beating these challenges we face of people denying the information we are usually yearning for.” Rukundo added. “It is specifically tailor-made, it goes beyond the media. Even people on the streets will feel they have a right to access information at the right time,” said Safari while explaining the nature of the new bill. Asked whether the bill will not contradict the Media law, Mulama said that there would be no collusion but instead compliment each other. “The media law only restricts the media and prescribes penalties but does not indicate how information should be obtained or which institution to enforce the law. This is what the new bill will be stating,” Mulama said. A validation workshop has been slated for July 31st for media practitioners, stakeholders and partners to add their input before it is forwarded to the cabinet and later parliament. Ends

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Access to Information Bill in the pipeline