Malawi Part 1, Section 1 of the Act however states that the law would become effective on a date appointed by the Minister and published in the gazette. The Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Nicholas Dausi, was yet to set a date for the implementation of the Act as at 31 December 2017, casting doubt on government’s commitment to the promotion of access to information as indicated in the 2014 ruling DPP manifesto. It is important to note that MISA Malawi made ATI a campaign issue during the 2014 Tripartite Elections and capitalised on the presidential debates to get commitments from candidates to enact legislation on ATI once in power. The DPP committed in its manifesto to ensure that Malawi has ATI legislation. Section 180 of the DPP manifesto reads: “We recognize that access to information is a major challenge… In this regard, the DPP government will pass and implement the Access to Information Bill.” Although one would argue that the DPP has lived up to its campaign promise, MISA Malawi believes that the process does not end with enactment but effective implementation and enjoyment of that right by all Malawians. This however, does not seem to be the case looking at a number of developments in 2017. Firstly, the oversight body, the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC), does not have resources to effectively undertake its oversight mandate. The MHRC cannot effectively operate without the necessary support and resources for effective implementation of the ATI Act. In the 2017/2018 national budget, no funds were allocated for preparatory work that MHRC had to undertake in readiness of implementation of the law. More surprising was the fact that during the Parliamentary Budget Review meet- ing, the Commission’s budget was cut to MK166, 000,000 (US$227, 397.27) from MK185, 000,000 (US$253,424.66). There is need to support and build the capacity of the Commission to effectively discharge its duties. Secondly, the Chapter received several reports of public bodies and individuals banning the media from covering public deliberations and functions at the time the President had assented to the ATI Act. For example, in mid September 2017, the Chapter received reports that the Phalombe District Council in southern Malawi had banned reporters from covering Council proceedings. Just one month earlier, in August, officials from the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) had also banned the media from covering the public-sector reform meetings which were taking place at the Bingu International Conference Centre. On 17 July, MISA Malawi issued a statement condemning the assault of MBC journalists by prison warders at Maula Central Prison. The prison warders assaulted and barred reporter Patrick Dambula and cameraman Hastings Khombo from covering a strike the warders had been holding since 14 July to force government to revise their salaries. MISA Malawi also issued another statement on 21 July over reports that the media had been barred from covering the infamous Maizegate case involving former Minister of Agriculture George Chaponda. Barring reporters from public functions is unconstitutional and retrogressive for Malawi and happened at a time the country had just enacted legislation on ATI. MISA Malawi believes such developments are an infringement on the right to know and demonstrate the urgency with which the country needs implementation of the ATI Act. These So This is Democracy? 2017 57