Access to information


ACCESS TO INFORMATION

Presentation at the 47th ZIMLA Conference/AGM and Exhibition, Peacock Hotel & Villas, Mutare from 24 – 28 June 2013

 

 

By

Lazarus Sauti

lazarussauti@gmail.com

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abstract

This treatise explores access to information and how libraries and related institutions can promote it for development. It explores the role of access to information in socio economic development. Furthermore, this paper makes it clear that freedom can be promoted in a democratic society only if its citizens have unrestricted access to information and ideas. The paper also strengthens the idea that access to information is a basic human right as clearly articulated in Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UNUDHR) and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) and it should be promoted and protected.

 

Key words: access to information; development; democracy; libraries; information age and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction

In the information/knowledge age, access to information has become significant for socio-economic development. For this, libraries and related institutions are important players in the fulfilment of such noble goals that contribute towards human development.

Chisita (2011) notes that world development in the economic, scientific, technical, political and social spheres are a product of human development which is fuelled by access to information. He goes on to say it is inconceivable to think of human development without access to information. Accordingly, information is the life-blood of our times; therefore we need it to survive and to prosper, almost as much as we need oxygen to live.

 

Development and access to information

According to Ssesanga (2009), development is a multifaceted subject whose meaning is determined by the context in which it is used. Ssesanga defines development as the positive transformation of people’s ways of living, attitudes and behaviours as a result of their exposure or access to relevant, adequate and timely information services courtesy of the information (digital) age.

Accordingly, development is an issue that is on the agenda of all nations and it is by nature an enviable goal for all people and nations as the world advances towards the knowledge economy.

Therefore, in order to ensure effective development there is need to combine the ‘inseparable trinity’ – access to information, communication and development. Ultimately, development can only be realised through the provision of relevant information at the right time and in the right package.

 

 

Democracy and access to information

Inequality of access to information...is a form of poverty. Without knowledge, you cannot act. This statement makes it clear that information is the lifeblood of a democracy. Therefore, without adequate access to key information about government policies and programs, citizens and parliamentarians cannot make informed decisions (Stephen Harper).

According to Gerard LaForest, former Supreme Court of Canada Justice, the overarching purpose of access to information … is to facilitate democracy. It does so in two related ways. It helps to ensure first, that citizens have the information required to participate meaningfully in the democratic process, and secondly, that politicians and bureaucrats remain accountable to the citizenry.

 

Accountability and access to information

Access to information is an essential pillar of development and is important for public accountability and the equal treatment of all people under the rule of law.  It allows individuals and groups to understand the policies with which the government makes determinations relating to health, education, housing and infrastructure projects and the factual basis for such decisions (Jimmy Carter, former USA President). Armed with such knowledge, citizens around the world are effectuating change that allows them to improve their living standards and better their lives.

 

Corruption and Access to information

Everybody knows that corruption thrives in secret places, and avoids public places … (Woodrow Wilson). To effectively fight corruption, access to information should be embraced since it the remedy to the darkness under which corruption thrives.

 

Libraries and Access to Information

Libraries are service organizations where individuals, organisations, and societies are provided unhindered access to substantial quantities of information (Aina, 2003). Therefore, they play a crucial role in providing users with unfettered access to education, recreation and information (Chisita 2011).

Furthermore, libraries and related institutions are expected to encourage the free flow of information and ideas within the scope of their roles and responsibilities since universal access to information are the basic premise of libraries. They should ensure equitable access to information and advocate for the necessary resources to enable them to provide access to knowledge.

More so, libraries and related institutions should embrace ICTs to effectively enhance access to information. ICTs reduce problems of access to information since they overcome many barriers that hinder access to information.

 

Recommendations

  • Partnerships between libraries and stakeholders in both private and public sectors should be encouraged to generate support for access to information.
  • Community engagement should be key priority for library service planning.
  • Libraries should provide free access to their services.
  • Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) should be incorporated into the library service’s access to information and literacy programmes. ICTs enhance access to information by breaking the barriers that hinders timeous access to information.

 

 

Summary

There is no doubt that access to information is critical for the development of any society and libraries provide access to an endless variety of information resources and opportunities for interactive communication. Therefore, libraries should ensure that the world's citizenry have access to information. This will serve as a panacea to the problems that long time exist and hindered Zimbabweans from exploiting their potentialities.

 

References

  1. Abidi, S. A. H. (1991). Communication, Information and Development in Africa. Kampala: Bano Publishers.
  2. Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act [10:27]
  3. Chisita, C. T. (2011). Role of public libraries in promoting literacy in Zimbabwe: Challenges of sustaining a reading culture. A paper published in the IFLA journal.
  4. Mansell, R and Wehn, U. (1998). Knowledge Societies: Information Technology for Sustainable Development. New York: Oxford University Press.
  5. Martin, W. J. (1995). The global Information society. Ashgate.
  6. The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
  7. The United Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights.

 

 

 

 

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