STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBA 3.3.1 ATI law progress The long wait for the tabling and enactment of the draft ATI Bill continued in the period under review. It was reported during the first quarter that despite the challenges the media was facing, government expressed confidence that the long-drawn out ATI bill enactment would recommence. This was after assurances were given by Minister of Justice Given Lubinda that his Ministry was ready to let the public to have a look at the bill. He’s statement was seen as hope the reactivation of a process that has been dragging on since the early 2000’s without its logical conclusion in sight. However, since the message of hope was delivered by the minister, not much has been to give an indication that the process would shape and as such some stakeholders aired their concerns of the delayed process. The Born Short Living Tall (BSLT) organisation challenged government to walk the talk and expedite the enactment of the Access to Information bill to strengthen accountability and enhance the effectiveness of democratic participation. BSLT Executive Director Ntalasha Chisha said that it is a well-known fact that the ATI Bill is a great weapon to fight corruption and that the organisation has observed with concern how some government contracts especially in the construction sector have allegedly been dubiously awarded to incapable contractors, who in turn produce substandard work. “ As an organisation concerned with the wellbeing of Zambians and the development of the country, we feel if enacted, the ATI Bill will bring about openness in relation to civil servants operations, transparency in public procurement and management of the public resources. As such we wish to remind government that providing the nation with this much needed bill will increase citizen participation in national issues based on informed points of view. The executive director called on the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice to make the contents of the ATI Bill available to the public, for inclusive participation in the push for the 18 | P a g e