By Paidashe Mandivengerei
Women’s and girls rights organisation, Tag A Life International (TaLI), Thursday launched My Freedom of Information campaign.
The campaign aims at raising awareness on the Freedom of Information Bill gazetted in July 2020 that repealed and replaced the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA).
Moreso, the campaign seeks to encourage women and girls to participate more in democracy and human rights matters.
Under the new act every person can request access to information from public, private and commercial entities which has to be availed to them in 48hours if it affects liberty or right to life and 21 days in other cases.
TagALife partnered with Identities Media TV and supported by the Information Ministry, Fojo Media Institute (Fojo), International Media Support (IMS) with financial backing from the Sweden Embassy in Zimbabwe in setting up ‘My Freeedom of Information – MFoI’ campaign.
‘My Freedom of Information – MFoI’ kickstarted with a training of thirty ambassador journalists from various media houses across the country.
In a statement, Fojo Media Institute said the Freedom of Information Act plays a huge role in advancing women and girls rights in Zimbabwe.
“Progressive laws such as these also enable women, girls, youths and all vulnerable groups to participate in democracy, human rights and accountability as they can easily access information that contributes to monitoring of usage of public resources.
“While the new law is viewed as a huge step in removing the draconian AIPPA which
while intended to provide access to information, had an impact on media freedoms and journalistic rights, media regulation and protection of privacy or information; women and girls always fail to have access to such information.
“They often do not know how to use such developments to the advancement of their rights.
