Now that the Acess to Information Act of 2017 (ATI 2017) has been operationalized by the Government of Malawi (GoM), Malawians expect enhanced transparency and accountability in the fight against the COVID 19 pandemic, particularly now that we see a surge in numbers of new cases and deaths.
The ATI 2017 legislation compels duty bearers (both state and non-state) to pro-actively disclose information related to COVID 19 response. This legislation also empowers Malawian citizens, journalists included, to demand duty bearers, to release information on how resources meant for the COVID 19 prevention and control are being mobilized and utilized. This is the only way to ensure that billions of Kwachas that are being said to be allocated to fight against this pandemic will achieve their intended purpose and do not just end up in people's pockets.
Since the COVID 19 outbreak was declared a state of national disaster in Malawi, following the first reported cases of COVID 19, in April 2020, GoM and many other non-state actors quickly started mobilizing resources for prevention and control of the pandemic. GoM and donors have made substantial, though not adequate, resources available for implentation of the prevention and control measures. With the ATI 2017 now operationalized, it is important that GoM through the newly established National COVID 19 Office in the Office of the President and Cabinet do diligently and promptly take stock and report to the nation what was planned, what has been accomplished and what remains to be done. Re-assess and re-design the national response plan to take into account the new developments (surge in new cases and deaths) and new funding opportunities and partners. The current updates by the Presidential Taskforce that simply focus on reporting new cases and deaths is inadequate. Malawians at large need to know how many ventilators do we now have, against the previously reported massive shortages of the equipment? Also, which donor is providing how much, to whom, and for what purposes are the said funds being or planned to used for? The fortnight reports by the President should include this information in the comprehensive account of what the GoM and all other partners are doing to contain the outbreak.
The ATI 2017 legislation compels duty bearers (both state and non-state) to pro-actively disclose information related to COVID 19 response. This legislation also empowers Malawian citizens, journalists included, to demand duty bearers, to release information on how resources meant for the COVID 19 prevention and control are being mobilized and utilized. This is the only way to ensure that billions of Kwachas that are being said to be allocated to fight against this pandemic will achieve their intended purpose and do not just end up in people's pockets.
Since the COVID 19 outbreak was declared a state of national disaster in Malawi, following the first reported cases of COVID 19, in April 2020, GoM and many other non-state actors quickly started mobilizing resources for prevention and control of the pandemic. GoM and donors have made substantial, though not adequate, resources available for implentation of the prevention and control measures. With the ATI 2017 now operationalized, it is important that GoM through the newly established National COVID 19 Office in the Office of the President and Cabinet do diligently and promptly take stock and report to the nation what was planned, what has been accomplished and what remains to be done. Re-assess and re-design the national response plan to take into account the new developments (surge in new cases and deaths) and new funding opportunities and partners. The current updates by the Presidential Taskforce that simply focus on reporting new cases and deaths is inadequate. Malawians at large need to know how many ventilators do we now have, against the previously reported massive shortages of the equipment? Also, which donor is providing how much, to whom, and for what purposes are the said funds being or planned to used for? The fortnight reports by the President should include this information in the comprehensive account of what the GoM and all other partners are doing to contain the outbreak.
