The Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises has allocated N.dollars 20 million to the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) for the establishment of an office of the Information Commissioner.

Tabling the national budget for the 2023/24 Financial Year in Parliament on Wednesday, Finance Minister Iipumbu Shiimi said this follows the enactment of the Access to Information Act last year.

“We have provided the financial resources in this budget for the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology to establish the Information Commission Office as required in the law,” said Shiimi.

In an interview with Nampa on Thursday, MICT spokesperson, Shoki Kandjimi said the ministry still needs to determine the location of the new office as well as determine when construction will commence.

‘“The location is yet to be determined. We still have to do the groundwork in terms of how many staff members and when construction will start and all other details,” said Kandjimi.

The installation of this office, according to Kandjimi, will pave the way for the appointment of the Information Commissioner and a Deputy Information Commissioner who will be tasked to safeguard and promote the right to access information to the public, he said.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency