Signed into law by President Hakainde Hichilema on December 22, 2023, and officially commenced on June 25, the Act shifts power from State bureaucracy to the citizens.
For decades, governance was shielded by a culture of secrecy that bred suspicion and choked development. Today, information is no longer a privilege granted by benevolent officials; it is a fundamental legal right owned by every Zambian.
As Information and Media Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana rightly observed during his engagement with public officers in Ndola, this law is not an administrative burden designed to create unnecessary bureaucracy.
Instead, it is a tool to build public trust. When citizens are left in the dark, rumours flourish and trust in Government institutions erodes. By opening up public records, the ATI Act provides a bridge of accountability.
True citizen participation in national development is impossible without factual knowledge. Crucially, the Act mandates public institutions to proactively disclose information. Civil servants must not sit back and wait for formal requests.
Vital data regarding Government contracts, beneficiaries of empowerment programmes, national and local budgets, and expenditure must be visible.
Information on the utilisation of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), the distribution of agricultural fertiliser, and the construction of schools, health facilities, and boreholes must be laid bare. Proactive disclosure eliminates the suspicion of corruption and allows local communities to verify if public funds are truly delivering development.
However, a law is only as powerful as its enforcement and compliance. This is where the dual mechanisms of administration and oversight become vital.
The Ministry of Information and Media is doing commendable work through its nationwide sensitisation programmes for civil servants.
Public officers must quickly unlearn old habits of secrecy, familiarise themselves with Sections 10 to 16 of the Act, and integrate openness into their daily routines.
Simultaneously, the Human Rights Commission (HRC) stands as a vital shield for the public.
As highlighted by HRC Legal Counsel Aaron Machinga in Solwezi, the law contains strict teeth.
If an institution delays a response without justification, ignores a query, or issues an outright denial, the citizen can appeal directly to the HRC.
The commission’s promise to enforce administrative penalties on non-compliant institutions is a welcome warning to rogue bureaucrats who wish to sabotage this progressive law.
While legitimate exemptions exist, such as national security, privileged information, and frivolous requests, they must never be used as a blanket excuse to hide wrongdoing.
As Father Christopher Sawila noted, the Church, civil society, and the media must now embark on robust public sensitisation.
A law unknown to the public is a dead law. Every Zambian must learn how to request information, track timelines, and appeal denials.
We urge all public institutions to embrace the spirit of openness. When public officials hide nothing, they have nothing to fear.
Let us utilise the ATI Act to foster a culture of transparency, block corruption, and build a truly accountable Zambia.
