State of the media report Q1-2021 to allow for wide consultations and review of certain provisions which would be inimical to freedom of expression10. 3.2.1. ACCESS TO INFORMATION BILL In the quarter under review, there was no progress recorded with regard to the enactment of the ATI Bill with no indication on the promised presentation of the Bill to parliament other than the two polices adopted in the previous quarter, namely the Government Communications Policy and the National Media Policy. The ATI Bill has stalled since it was first mooted in 2002 with several pronouncements made by different regimes but all in vain. It is saddening that another session of the National Assembly was passing by in the quarter under review without enactment of the Bill despite nearly two decades of lobbying and advocacy. Further, history is about to repeat itself as another term of office comes to an end and election campaigns begin, with political parties expected to again include enactment of the ATI Bill as a hall mark feature of their manifestos. Parliament resumed sitting for the third and final session of the twelfth National Assembly11 which will see the house being dissolved with no indication of plans by government to present the Bill. The law on Access to Information is critical for the enhancement of transparency, accountability and the role of the media, all of which are essential in a liberal democracy. Further, such a law could help to alleviate vices such as corruption which thrive in an environment of secrecy. 10 As reported on 19th February, 2021 in the News Diggers Newspaper. See https://diggers.news/local/2021/02/19/cyber-security-bill-is-dangerous-csos/ 11 According to a public announcement issued by the Clerk of the National Assembly. See http://www.parliament.gov.zm/node/8828 22