The passing of the Access to Information Bill this week has been hailed and described as historic for Namibia. 

The bill, which was passed with minor amendments by the National Council this week, was tabled in parliament in 2021, with the aim to give individuals a right to access information held by the government.

It is an important piece of legislation that aims to promote the public’s free access to information from public institutions and further compels both private and public institutions to make information proactively and readily available for the public’s consumption. 

Hugh Ellis, journalism senior lecturer at the Namibia University of Science and Technology said the bill represents a will for Namibia to have a truly democratic system of government, where the people – not the politicians – call the shots. 

“It is essential that government and indeed private sector companies, such as banks and internet service providers, see the information provided by them to the public and relating to public monies, like taxes, as the public’s information – not their personal property,” he noted. 

Ellis suggests the implementation of this act will be critical. However, he says mechanisms must be set up so that members of the public (including but not limited to journalists and members of non-profit organisations) can easily request information. 

He said this should ideally be an agency separate from current political or administrative office bearers, who have an incentive to keep things quiet. 

“There must be ways for citizens to request information both in person and online. It would be a shame if this act only made a difference for those citizens who can afford to go to court to access information,” he cautioned. 

The final hurdle for the long-awaited legislation is the signing into law by the head of state, President Hage Geingob.

The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), long an advocate for ATI legislation, yesterday tweeted: “We hope we can move to the implementation phase quickly and the Act is not left hanging as has happened with the whistleblower legislation”.

Information and communication executive director Audrin Mathe welcomed the bill’s passing.

“The Ministry of Information Communication Technology welcomes and notes the developments pertaining to the passing of the Access to Information Bill in the National Council on Tuesday, 16 August 2022,” he said. 

The bill further cements Namibia’s stand in areas of good governance, transparency and accountability for a functional democracy.

Once enacted into law, the access to information legislation will allow Namibians access to strategic information that will assist them to make informed decisions for the betterment of their livelihood

Mathe said the ministry will be required to establish the office of the independent information commissioner, which will safeguard and promote the right to access information among the public through awareness campaigns, as well as educational and training programmes for the citizenry.

- anakale@nepc.com.na