By Florence Zirima
Women and girls have been encouraged to utilise the new Freedom of Information Act to promote their rights.
Speaking to ZimPress News recently following the successful launch of the Freedom of Information Act campaign, Tag a Life International director Ms Nyaradzo Mashayamombe said women should exercise their right to access information to improve their wellbeing.
The new law allows citizens including the marginalized people to seek information they may require. Ms Mashayamombe told this publication that women have the right to access information they need from any institution.
“Information can be sought from any public or private organization including the Council where citizens pay rates to understand how Council is utilising the resources they get from citizens,” she said.
Ms Mashayamombe also revealed that the new Act promotes devolution which was introduced by the government to understand how the resources are being utilised to improve the lives of people including women and girls.
She urged women and girls to use the new law for their advantage and to participate in gorvernance and democracy.
“As we are building towards elections, there are things that our leaders promised us and let’s use the new law to ask them pertaining their promises,” said Ms Mashayamombe.
The new Freedom of Information Act was introduced on 1 July 2020 to replace the old Accessto Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA). The new Act enables citizens and media practitioners to access information in line with Section 62 of the Constitution.
The new law empowers citizens and journalists to approach public bodies with request for information.
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