ZAMBIA Swaziland INTRODUCTION Information has been described as the oxygen of democracy because without it, people are unable to participate effectively in the governance processes. Freedom of information (FOI) gives members of the public the right to access information held by the government and in some instances, by private institutions. The aim is to lift the veil of secrecy that governments tend to operate in as well as to reinforce the idea that governments hold information for the people who elected them into office. In Zambia, the Access to Information (ATI) Bill has been embraced on the premise that a free press and an informed citizenry are better placed to provide checks and balances to public institutions and the Government, thereby ensuring transparency and good governance. FOI is seen and recognised as both a key ingredient in the democratic governance as well as a fundamental human right. It has, however been observed that the level of awareness among citizens with regard to the ATI provisions are lower than expected. This is despite the numerous sensitisation programmes aimed at educating the public about the importance of having legislation in place which empowers citizens to hold leaders and institutions accountable. There still exists the misconception that the ATI Bill, when and if enacted into law, will benefit the media fraternity more than any other section of society. There are also fears that some members of the public may abuse it. Successive governments have promised to ensure the passage of the ATI Law. Politicians have promised to seriously look into the enactment of the Bill into law on numerous occasions, but nothing concrete has come out of these pronouncements. On the 4th of May 2016, the Civil Society Coalition on the Enactment of the Access to Information Bill picketed Parliament and presented a petition demanding the enactment of the Access to Information Law. The Coalition, which presented the petition signed by 101,799 people from 70 districts in the country to the Chairperson of the Information and Broadcasting Committee, Kabinga Pande, was displeased by what it says is the casual manner with which the Patriotic Front (PF) Government had handled the enactment of laws that have a direct and positive impact on the lives of citizens. Coalition Chairperson, Fr. Leonard Chiti, observed that the culture and attitude of dragging and procrastinating, detrimental to the wellbeing of the country, had continued to be the order of the day in the Patriotic Front -led government. Fr. Chiti said it is disheartening that in their pronouncements, President Edgar Lungu and his regime are reluctant to enact the Bill because they feel some sections of the media will use the law irresponsibly. 90 He further mentioned that the President’s statement on the Bill, including that of the Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, Chishimba Kambwili indicate a clear lack of commitment to a cause that they themselves championed prior to, and after the 2011 General Election. The Coalition says it will remain steadfast and work with progressive members of Parliament and other stakeholders to ensure that the Government tables the ATI bill without any further delay. Last year, President Lungu said he was thinking twice about Zambia enacting the ATI Law because of the conduct of some media practitioners whom he said were engaging in irresponsible reporting. It should be noted that freedom of information is a fundamental human right without which individuals and institutions cannot function properly. Rationale and ReseaRch PaRaMeteRs The objective of the research was to establish the challenges faced by ordinary citizens in Zambia, in an effort to access information from government and public institutions. The survey also sought to establish how public institutions respond to requests for information submitted by ordinary citizens, as well as to assess the levels of transparency in government and public institutions with regard to access to information. The research also sought to inculcate a culture of transparency in the government and public institutions. Eight (8) public institutions were selected for this survey, which was conducted between 10 August 2016 and 2 September 2016. The research involved writing to all selected institutions and conducting an assessment of the institutions’ online platforms as well as making phone calls and physical visits. The following public institutions were surveyed: 1. Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) 2. Energy Regulation Board (ERB) 3. Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health (MCDMCH) 4. Ministry of Health (MoH) 5. Ministry of Youth and Sport (MYSCD) 6. National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) 7. Office of the Auditor General (OAG) 8. Public Service Commission (PSC)