Fairness Moyana
YOUTHS in Matabeleland North province have hailed the enactment of the Freedom of Information Act arguing that it empowered them to demand clarity in development processes.
Government recently repealed the restrictive Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) and replaced it with the Freedom of Information Act (FoIA). The new law empowers citizens and media practitioners to demand information from government agencies and private institutions within a specified period of time.
According to Hwange Youth Empowerment Initiative (HYEI) the Act will liberalise access to information.
“As the youth of Hwange and Zimbabwe we openly welcome and commend the steps taken towards liberalization of access to information by the current government. Access to reliable and relevant information especially towards service delivery and governance issues or actors has been the biggest obstacle towards enhancing active youth participation in decision making processes, anti-corruption efforts and facilitation of community led service provider accountability efforts. The Act will go a long way in the facilitation of a more transparent and inclusive government and social institutions,” said the organization’s executive director, Glen Dumolwayo Ncube.
He said the Act not only empowered youth to demand clarity on processes but encouraged participation and inclusion in decision making processes.
“The Act empowers the youth to demand clarity on budgeting processes, finances and undertakings that otherwise would have been given under red tape. Youths have continuously clamoured for the devolution of information and resources, this act is a step towards that end. As the youth we can utilize the Act to demand a more fair, and just society that encourages citizen input , participation and inclusion in decision making processes and resource distribution.”
His counterpart, Tawanda Mazango, Programs Coordinator for Lupane Youth for Development Trust concurred, adding that the Act promoted transparency in the governance of public resources.
“As LYDT this is a welcome Act that will promote transparency in the governance of public resources. In the past, it was difficult to get information from public offices. They would toss you from one office to another till you get frustrated. Now that we have this Act which more importantly is directing every public entity to have an Information Officer will not endure the trouble of being tossed around. Moreover, young people will access vital information in time, and be able to hold public officials to account,” he said.
Mazango called on youth to take advantage of the Act to seek answers on institution expenditures.
“We look forward to young people of Lupane taking advantage of this Act to request pertinent information that relates to expenditure breakdown of received royalties from companies extracting natural resources in Lupane, devolution and ZINARA funds expenditures, Environment Impact Assessment documents from EMA, and many more. The Act does not limit youths to only local governance issues but it is broad to empower them to ask for information even to central government agencies. However, as LYDT we should invest more time and resources to make this Act known by youths and citizens especially to those who are perceived to be hard to locate.”
HYEI is an advocacy, relief and development agent that focuses on the facilitation of youth empowerment and community development. Its programming focuses on skills transfer, career guidance and mentorship, mental health matters, feminine health, leadership grooming, resource linkages, environment protection and socio-economic justice interventions.
On the other hand, LYDT endeavours to inspire and empower youths for their future with a thrust on keeping youths away from ill behaviours through sports activities, entrepreneurship projects and capacity building workshops.
