The Human Rights Commission Zambia (HRC-Z) has presented draft guidelines on the implementation of the Access to Information (ATI) Act No. 24 of 2023 to stakeholders for validation.
The validation meeting, being attended by State and Non-State Actors, is running from 30th September to 4th October 2025 in Chilanga District, Lusaka.
The meeting has been convened by the ATI Coalition, comprising 21 Civil Society Organisations.
The workshop aims to validate the Guidelines developed in line with Section 38 of the ATI Act by a Technical Working Group, comprising the Ministry of Information and Media (MIM) the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), the Judiciary and the Human Rights Commission.
The validation of the Guidelines by stakeholders is critical to achieving broad consensus to ensure effective implementation of the ATI Act.
Opening the validation workshop yesterday, MISA Zambia Chairperson Lorraine Mwanza Chisanga stressed the urgency of full implementation of the Act before the end of the period of progressive compliance in June 2025.
ATI Coalition Vice Chairperson, Guess Nyirenda thanked Government for enacting the Act but cautioned that the real test lay in its implementation.
Stakeholders acknowledged the need for aggressive sensitization, proactive disclosure of information, and stronger collaboration between government, civil society, and the private sector to enhance access to information.
The Guidelines, once validated by stakeholders, will be published in the Gazette in accordance with Section 38 of the ATI Act.
