LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Oxfam Malawi has dared environmental journalists to extensively use the Access to Information Law by holding public officers accountable to address environmental challenges being experienced.
Oxfam Malawi’s Clean Energy project Coordinator Kondwani Mubisa told The Maravi Post during the sidelines of the 2024 Annual Congress for Science and Environmental Journalists in Malawi underway in the capital Lilongwe that the law requires full understanding for easy usage.
Mubisa therefore commended the Association of Environmental Journalists (AEJ) and Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) for accepting Oxfam’s request to train journalists on ATI law as part of the institution’s capacity-building agenda.
“The training focused on enhancing the knowledge and skills of journalists concerning access to information, with a particular emphasis on the energy sector and environmental issues.
“The primary objective of the training was to equip journalists with a comprehensive understanding of the Access to Information Law, empowering them to leverage this legal framework in their pursuit of accountability and transparency within the energy sector and the environmental sector at large,” he said.
Mubisa adds, “The session underscored the critical role of the media in holding institutions accountable by ensuring that vital information is accessible to the public. We want environmental journalists to utilize the Access to Information Law to obtain information from various institutions.
“The training emphasized the importance of transparency in governance and how journalists can serve as a bridge between institutions and the public by making crucial information available for public consumption. Moreover, the session provided in-depth discussions on the relationship between the Access to Information Law and the Constitution of Malawi, highlighting the provisions that safeguard media freedom”.
He explains further, “Participants were made aware of how these legal tools can be used to navigate challenges in their reporting, particularly when dealing with sensitive or restricted information. This legal grounding is vital for journalists who are often on the frontline of investigative reporting, ensuring they can effectively perform their duties while upholding journalistic integrity.
“The session also addressed the potential limitations and exemptions within the Access to Information Law. Journalists were sensitized to scenarios where the law might not apply, such as cases involving national security, personal privacy, or other protected information categories. Understanding these exemptions is crucial for media practitioners to navigate the legal landscape without inadvertently breaching legal boundaries”.
Speaking on the sidelines of the training, AEJ President Matthews Malata lauded Oxfam for the timely training saying will help environmental journalists to utilize the law effectively when accessing information from policyholders.
The capacity-building session on leveraging the access to information law in advancing the clean energy agenda was supported by Oxfam under the Promoting Equitable Access to Clean Energy (PEACE) project with financial support from the European Union (EU).