The Vice Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee, Hon. Ishmael Grant Rashid, MP, made the remarks on 21 May 2024 when he opened a 3-day ATI training for Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) staff at Sunbird Kuchawe in Zomba. Rashid said the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) acknowledge access to information as a key enabler to transparency, accountability, participatory governance, and the rule of law.

"It is only proper that institutions provide information that is accurate and accessible to the public,” said Rashid.

He added that his committee works with the Malawi Human Rights Commission to train staff in public institutions on ATI to ensure that all public bodies comply with the law as an institution mandated to spearhead the full implementation of the law.

"Our Committee and the Malawi Human Rights Commission have taken serious interventions to enforce compliance to the ATI law since it was enacted by training information holders on all aspects of the ATI Act provisions,” he added. 

Rashid then applauded MUBAS for organizing the ATI training for its staff which will ensure that the university complies with the tenets of the ATI law.

In her remarks, MUBAS Vice Chancellor, Associate Professor Nancy Chitera hailed the Parliamentary Committee on Media, Information and Communication for the fruitful engagement with the university which has culminated into the first-ever ATI training for MUBAS staff.

Said Chitera, “Following the fruitful discussions we had with the Committee some two weeks ago, we realized the importance of organizing this training for our staff, including all senior managers to ensure a smooth flow of information.”

“As you can see, present here are some heads of departments and all our Executive Deans to make sure that everyone is aware of this act,’’ added Chitera.

The ATI law was enacted in 2017 and it became operational in 2020. The law seeks to provide access to information held by public information holders and other relevant bodies, including private entities that do business with the government.