Information: No equal accessAs the world yesterday celebrated universal access to information, Namibia’s minister of information and communication technology pleaded for rural areas to be linked to the global superhighway. ICT minister focuses on infrastructure 0 At the first global celebration of universal access to information held yesterday, information minister Tjekero Tweya urged Namibians to improve access to rural and poor communities who remain excluded.“When we celebrate this day of universal access to information I want us to think of those that are deliberately locked out by the system, which we do not want to undo because of selfishness. Let’s therefore join hands, public and private sector, to ensure that universal access to information for all Namibians as a basic human right is realised,” he said.
The minister, citing cellphone, TV and radio access statistics, said many Namibians continue to live “in darkness” with little or no access to radio, mobile telephones or television.
“They are unemployed. They live in rural areas, they are poor. They remain excluded deliberately from accessing basic information that can improve their lives,” he said at an event marking the first global day for universal access to information.
He urged all concerned citizens to help find ways to improve access to information, adding that it appears that people who are not “economically viable … remain locked out. That is a sad reality.”
Several speakers underlined the fact that free access to information enables people to make decisions that affect their lives and empowers them to participate in democracy.
Tweya urged the private and public sectors to help improve communications infrastructure so that all people can have access to basic information.
He warned that if the youth don’t have “information to stimulate them, they will remain on the streets of hopelessness”.
He said the government’s commitment to ensuring that people have access to information is critical as it allows citizens to “make meaningful decisions and choices about their lives and livelihoods.”
He assured the audience that the Access to Information Bill is on target to be finalised by June 2017.
The legislation will compel public and private institutions to make available information to the public “in order to enhance service delivery, promote transparency, improve accountability, fight corruption and improve the socio-economic wellbeing of our people”, Tweya said.
The minister warned that the right to information comes with the responsibility to protect the peace and stability in Namibia.
While he described the news media as “an undeniable partner in enhancing democracy and promoting the socio-economic well-being of our people” he urged journalists to remain factual and responsible.