13 Dec 2016

Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration says the Access to Information Bill has been drafted.

Answering a question in Parliament, Mr Thato Kwerepe said it must be appreciated that in the context of the contemporary digital information environment, issues of access to information were tied to those of data protection and privacy, which had been government’s priority in the context of Botswana’s e-legislation programme under the Botswana National Information and Communications Policy (The Maitlamo Policy).   

He indicated that alongside this draft, was the Data Protection Bill which would pave way for the introduction of legislation on Access to Information.

“Both Bills await finalisation by government after which they will be tabled before Parliament,” he said.  Member of Parliament for Gaborone Central Dr Phenyo Butale had asked the Minister when he intends to table the Freedom of Information or Access to Information Bill as promised on numerous occasions by his Ministry and whether the bill has already been drafted. ENDS