Misa Demands Debate On the Right to Information Bill

3 May 2011

Maputo — The Mozambican chapter of the regional press freedom body MISA (Media Institute of Southern Africa) on Tuesday condemned the Mozambican parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, for its failure to schedule for debate the draft Right to Information Bill which was submitted to parliament six years ago.

In a press release received by AIM, MISA-Mozambique notes that World Press Freedom Day, celebrated on Tuesday across the world, is taking place at a time when there are no visible signs of debate in the Mozambican parliament of the proposed Right to Information Bill.

The draft was submitted to parliament on 30 November 2005 by a group of Civil Society Organizations led by MISA-Mozambique.

This Bill, besides answering the demands of civil society organisations and the public in general, also arises from commitments made by the Mozambican government when it ratified both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

According to MISA-Mozambique, the Universal Declaration states that the right to freedom of expression includes not only the freedom to ‘disseminate information and ideas of all kinds’, but also the freedom to ‘seek’ and ‘receive’ information, without any barriers and by any lawful means.

The Right to Information Bill, yet to be debated and approved by parliament, could change the current scenario in Mozambique, as it would indicate clearly and unequivocally the procedures for free access to information in the country.

“Against all the expectations raised during the previous meetings held last year between the parliamentary groups of Frelimo, Renamo and MDM and the civil society organisations, that were also attended by the Chairperson of the Committee of Public Administration, Local Government and Media, Alfredo Gamito, they failed to schedule for debate the Right to Information Bill for the current ordinary session of parliament”, reads the document.

“Freedom of the Press and Expression and the Right to Information are stated in Article 48 of Mozambique’s Constitution as an insurmountable right”, adds the document.

MIISA-Mozambique emphasizes that the Right to Information is the right of every citizen to inform and be informed by all legal means, and together with freedom of expression are international standards of human rights.

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