- THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL ZAMBIA;
- REPRESENTATIVES OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION;
- REPRESENTATIVES OF CORRUPTION WATCH SOUTH AFRICA;
- REPRESENTATIVES OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS;
- COOPERATING PARTNERS;
- THE MEDIA;
- DISTINGUISHED GUESTS;
- LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
Good Morning.
It is a privilege to join you today as we commemorate the International Day for Universal Access to Information and witness the launch of the policy brief entitled Right to Information and Anti-Corruption in Southern Africa: Strengthening Accountability Through a Fundamental Human Right.
This year’s commemoration is being held under the theme, “Upholding Information Integrity in the Digital Age: The Role of Access to Information in Addressing Information Disorder.” The theme is particularly relevant in an era characterised by unprecedented access to information through digital technologies, alongside growing concerns regarding misinformation, disinformation and manipulation of content.
Today, access to information is not merely about availability. It is about ensuring that citizens have access to information that is timely, credible and reliable. Access to credible information strengthens informed participation in public affairs, promotes accountability and helps citizens distinguish fact from falsehood.
Equally, when reliable information is unavailable or inaccessible, speculation, misinformation and mistrust can flourish. Public institutions therefore have a responsibility to ensure that accurate information is readily available to citizens.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Zambia has made significant progress through the enactment of the Access to Information Act No. 24 of 2023 and the subsequent adoption of implementation guidelines and regulations. These measures have established a strong legal framework for transparency, accountability and citizen participation.
However, the success of any law is measured not by its existence, but by its implementation. The right to information must become a practical reality for ordinary citizens. It must serve the farmer seeking information on agricultural programmes, the entrepreneur seeking access to procurement opportunities, the journalist investigating matters of public interest, and every citizen seeking to understand how public decisions are made and public resources are utilised.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The policy brief launched today correctly underscores the close relationship between access to information and the fight against corruption. Transparency is one of the most effective safeguards against corruption. It enables citizens, oversight institutions, civil society organisations and the media to scrutinise public decisions and demand accountability.
Corruption thrives where there is secrecy and weak oversight. Transparency, on the other hand, promotes openness, strengthens public trust and supports good governance.
The policy brief also highlights the importance of proactive disclosure. Public institutions should progressively move beyond a culture where citizens must request every piece of information. Wherever possible and lawful, information relating to budgets, procurement processes, development projects and other matters of public interest should be routinely published. Such an approach promotes accountability and enhances public confidence in public institutions.
At the same time, access to information must remain inclusive. Transparency cannot depend solely on digital platforms. Community radio stations, local authorities, newspapers and community meetings continue to play a critical role in ensuring that information reaches citizens, particularly those in rural communities.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Information integrity has become one of the defining challenges of our time. The rapid spread of false information can undermine public trust and distort public discourse.
The most effective response to misinformation is not simply to challenge falsehoods after they have circulated. Rather, it is to ensure the timely dissemination of accurate, credible and authoritative information.Government institutions must therefore continue strengthening their capacity to communicate effectively and transparently. Where information may lawfully be disclosed, it should be made available promptly and in forms that are accessible and understandable.
This responsibility is shared. Government, the media, civil society organisations, digital platforms and citizens all have a role to play in promoting responsible information sharing and strengthening information integrity.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Universal access must genuinely mean universal access.
No citizen should be excluded from access to information because of geography, disability, limited connectivity or other barriers. Information must be disseminated through multiple channels and, where necessary, in local languages and accessible formats to ensure that all citizens are able to exercise their rights.
Equally important is the need to cultivate a culture of openness within public institutions. While legitimate protections relating to national security, privacy and other interests protected by law must continue to be respected, openness should remain the guiding principle wherever disclosure is lawful and in the public interest.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The policy brief being launched today is an important contribution to ongoing discussions on transparency, accountability and democratic governance within our region.
Its central message is clear: access to information strengthens accountability; accountability strengthens public trust; and public trust strengthens democratic governance.
Achieving these objectives requires collaboration among Government institutions, oversight bodies, civil society organisations, the media and citizens themselves.
I therefore commend Transparency International Zambia and Corruption Watch South Africa for producing this timely policy brief and contributing to the advancement of transparency and accountability in our region.
As we commemorate the International Day for Universal Access to Information, let us reaffirm our collective commitment to building institutions that are transparent, accountable and responsive to the needs of our people.
Let us also reaffirm the principle that access to credible information empowers citizens, strengthens accountability and advances democracy.
With those remarks, it is my honour and privilege to officially launch the policy brief entitled Right to Information and Anti-Corruption in Southern Africa: Strengthening Accountability Through a Fundamental Human Right.
I thank you.
