enactment by successive governments, with several retrogressions and stalling to date. This is even more critical as enactment of a law on Access to Information is one of the UPND’s electoral promises contained in the party’s manifesto (2021-2026)3. The party’s electoral promises on corruption eradication included the making available of unclassified public records for public scrutiny, which would be, in essence, hinged on access to information legislation. However, during the period under review, the access to information Bill did not see the light of day while government indicated plans to embark on a nationwide consultative process4, adding to various excuses made by previous regimes5. Ironically, the Bill was first withdrawn twenty 3 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/607ecab103ab20228defa27d/t/6093f07e5281d054decacc79/1620308100501/UP ND+MANIFESTO.pdf 4 https://www.znbc.co.zm/news/ati-bill-to-be-taken-countrywide/ An early account of the struggle for the ATI Bill is contained in Matibini, P. (2006). The struggle for media law reforms in Zambia. Lusaka: MISA. Selected pronouncements include: In October, 2011, for example, VicePresident, Dr Guy Scott announced that government would enact the ATI (then Freedom of Information) Bill within ninety days. In 2013, then Minister of Information and Broadcasting Mwansa Kapeya disclosed that government had hired a consulting law firm to harmonise the Access to Information (ATI) Bill with other pieces of legislation that may have implications on the Act once it is passed. Mr. Kapeya said the consulting law firm had been given 30 days and that once this was done the Bill would be taken to parliament for enactment. See https://www.lusakatimes.com/2013/11/01/government-hires-a-consulting-law-firm-to-work-on-accessinformation-bill/ . On February 12, 2015, the Minister of Information and broadcasting informed the nation that he would ensure the ATI bill was tabled in Parliament when the house resumed sitting on February 24th, 2015 (the session adjourned sine die on March 27th, 2015 without the bill being presented still). At a press briefing on March 2nd, 2015, the Minister announced that the ATI bill was submitted to the Attorney General’s Office for clearance pending presentation to Parliament. See https://ifex.org/zambian-government-must-moveahead-with-access-to-information-bill/ . In May, 2016, then Minister of information and Broadcasting announced that a committee of Cabinet Ministers would sit to deliberate on the contents of the ATI Bill in preparation for its enactment. See http://www.daily-mail.co.zm/ministers-to-discuss-information-bill/ . In March, 2019, Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Dora Siliya, announced that cabinet had approved the Access to Information Bill, describing the decision as a ‘new beginning’. See https://www.lusakatimes.com/2019/03/19/cabinet-approves-access-to-information-bill/. In September, 2021, Minister of Information and Media, Chushi Kasanda said government would move ‘with speed’ to ensure the ATI Bill was enacted into law. See https://diggers.news/local/2021/09/16/well-move-with-speed-to-enactaccess-to-information-bill-kasanda/. In November, 2021, Information Minister, Chushi Kasanda said the process to enact the ATI Bill was underway. https://www.znbc.co.zm/news/access-to-information-bill-underwaykasanda/. In May, 2022, Information and Media Minister Chushi Kasanda said ‘tremendous’ progress towards the enactment of the Access to Information -ATI Bill had been made. Ms Kasanda said consultations of incorporating the views of stakeholders into the Draft ATI Bill had been concluded. She also stated that soon after coming into office, the New Dawn Government recalled the ATI Bill from the Ministry of Justice and circulated it to stakeholders so that they could have an input in its formulation. The Minister said the bill was being finalised in readiness for re-submission to the Ministry of Justice. See https://www.znbc.co.zm/news/progress-made-on-ati-bill-kasanda/. Other promises and excuses can be viewed 5 13