Southern Africa Urged to Strengthen Access to Information Laws for Governance and Climate Resilience

By Delicious Mathuthu

Harare, Zimbabwe - As the world marked the International Day for Universal Access to Information on September 28, the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Regional Office called on Southern African governments to expedite and modernize access to information legislation to enhance governance and address pressing environmental challenges.

This year’s theme, "Ensuring Access to Environmental Information in the Digital Age", focuses on the critical role of timely and accessible information in a region grappling with climate shocks and governance issues.

MISA Regional Chairperson, Jeremias Langa, says the transformative potential of access to information laws is key.

“Access to information holds the promise of fostering good governance by improving information management, and by enhancing transparency, accountability, and greater participation of the populace in public affairs,” Langa said, quoting the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR).

He highlighted that over the past three years, Namibia and Zambia have joined seven other Southern African countries in implementing such legislation, bringing the total to nine.

Botswana and Eswatini are also exploring similar laws, with MISA urging accelerated action.

The ACHPR warns that the lack of access to information deprives citizens of their right to participate in the decision-making process and hold elected representatives accountable for their acts or omissions.

"… creates an environment in which corruption, maladministration and mismanagement of national resources may thrive," he said.

Langa is urging countries without such laws to act swiftly to empower citizens and strengthen democratic processes.

This year’s theme resonates in Southern Africa, a region recovering from its worst drought in a generation and increasingly frequent cyclone-induced flooding.

The intensified demand for commodities has also spurred mining activities, sometimes with devastating consequences.

Langa points to recent reports of widespread water and soil contamination linked to a February mine spill in Zambia, illustrating the urgent need for transparent environmental information.

“These examples emphasize the vital importance of timely and accessible information in the region, allowing citizens to make well-informed decisions,” he says.

MISA says in the digital age, the absence of robust information frameworks fuels misinformation, which can harm communities.

“Governments should not only enact access to information laws but also ensure these laws are updated to reflect the digital age and promote information disclosure as a means to counter misinformation,” Langa says.

He calls for laws to be modernized to address digital challenges and ensure proactive disclosure of information.

To address the region’s vulnerabilities, MISA outlines three key recommendations for governments which include expediting access to information legislation.

Countries without such laws should prioritize their enactment to enhance citizen participation in governance.

MISA also says countries should ensure laws reflect the digital age where governments update existing laws to align with digital advancements and actively combat misinformation through proactive information disclosure.

Developing frameworks for vulnerable communities and climate resilience is also another recommendation.

The institution says governments should establish access to information frameworks that protect the most vulnerable communities and promote climate resilience and sustainability.

MISA, a regional non-governmental organization established in 1992, operates in eight Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries and is committed to promoting free, independent and pluralistic media as envisioned in the 1991 Windhoek Declaration.