Manganya blasts ‘childish’ govt over failure to pass Information bill

Adventist church relief arm, the Adventist Relief Agency (ADRA) through its deputy director of ADRA Michael Usi has severely criticised the government for its failure to table the Access to Information bill, saying the government is creating a breeding ground for corruption.

Usi says the government is insenstive to the plight of Malawians, most of whom live below poverty line.

“This is childish. I repeat the government is childish because people are suffering, what is in that bill that the government is hiding,” said Usi.

Asked by a radio reporter if President Peter Mutharika is childish as well, Usi did not mince words: “He and his government are childish.”

He added: “ They are not sensitive. There can be a back clash and they will have no one to blame, people are very angry out there.”

Civil society groups and the media are planning an unspecified action against the government for its failure to table the bill.

Media owners and managers who include Times Grouo managing director Leonard Chikadya, Nation Publication Limited’s Mbumnba Banda, Zodial’s Gospel Kazako and Capital Radio’s Alaudin Osman have petitioned the President regarding the bill.

Usi said it was unfortunate that the government is failing to provide answers to most problems facing the nation, including the Access to Information Bill.

Misa Malawi president Thom Khanje said Malawians woukd not accept a doctored bill after stakeholders fine tuned it and regarded it as the best of all bills.

Media Council of Malawi chairperson Chijere Chirwa said the bill has taken time to draft because of wise inputs from civil society groups and the media among other crucial stakeholders and would not allow the executive arm of government to dilute it to suit the ego of the executive.

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