By Wezzie Gausi:
The Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) has said the government should prioritise and invest in enhancing e-governance systems and proactive disclosure of information using digital spaces.
This comes as Malawi joined the rest of the World in commemorating International Day of Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) Thursday.
In a statement, CHRR Executive Director Michael Kaiyatsa said CHRR underscores the critical role that digital spaces play in ensuring universal access to information.
He said this year’s theme, ‘The Importance of the Online Space for Access to Information,’ highlights the significance of leveraging digital technologies to foster transparency, accountability, inclusive and open governance.
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“In this context, CHRR calls upon the Malawi Government to take decisive steps to prioritise and invest in enhancing e-governance and proactive disclosure of information using digital spaces.
“E-governance is not only a key element of the national Open Government Partnership (OGP) Action Plan for 2023-2025 but also a crucial strategy for modernising governance, improving service delivery, and strengthening citizen participation in decision-making processes,”Kaiyatsa said.
Digital Rights National Coordinator Denis Mwafulirwa said the government must take concrete steps to release the long-awaited public sector systems review report, thus reaffirming its dedication to the principles of Open Government Partnership and demonstrating a commitment to genuine accountability.
“E-governance initiatives have the potential to transform the relationship between the government and citizens by enhancing transparency so as digital platforms can provide real-time access to government information, budgets, and policies, ensuring that citizens are well-informed about the work of their government.
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“Improve accountability by making sure e-governance enables the tracking of government expenditures and performance, facilitating oversight by civil society and the public,”Mwafulirwa said.
