Nine years since Rwanda enacted the Access to Information Law (AIL). The country was the 11th in Africa and the 94th globally to adopt an Access to Information Law.
The law enables the public and journalists to access information possessed by the public and some private institutions. It also recognizes the right to access to information, the procedures for accessing information, and compliance related issues.
Despite the existence of this law, there are still challenges impeding access to information.
Speaking in Club de la Presse talk show, Mr Rushingabigwi from Rwanda Governance Board said that the issue of access to information is holistic; it cannot be solved when it is taken from an angle because it involves different aspects: information holders, the rules governing how information is given, information seekers, the knowledge of journalists who give it to the public, the audience and the environment as well.
He called all the relevant institutions to complement each other in contributing to ensure that reliable and timely information is provided.
The secretary general of Rwanda Journalists Association, Mr Janvier Nshimyumukiza pointed out that though the access to information law is toothless, i.e it does not have the enforcement mechanism, its enactment has contributed to the improvement of the freedom of information.
“However, as this law doesn’t provide any punitive measures to those who violate it, some leaders declined information requests.” He said
He highlighted other challenges journalists face like:
- Some authorities use the pretext that requested information is confidential that it is not allowed to release it.
- Journalists are sometimes denied access to public places like markets by security agents.
- Some public and private institutions tend to give preferential treatment to big local media houses and to international media organs.
- Citizens who talk to media are subjected to harassment by local leaders
The media policy analyst of the Ministry of Local Government Mr Peacemaker Mbungiramihigo said that, media law and related texts are being revised taking into consideration all the identified gaps.
“We have also organized training of communication and information officer in local government institutions to the district level. And local leaders from sector level have been taught the importance of providing information as on of their responsibility.” he said
He added that both sides ( media and government institutions) should to correct the mistakes and weaknesses, especially the issues that have nothing to do with the revision of Access to information law and related texts.