The Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Emma Theofelus, says the appointments of the Information Commissioners require parliamentary approval.

She was responding to suggestions from Members of Parliament that she could independently deal with the process leading to the appointments.

Theofelus recently presented the regulations for the Access to Information Act in the National Assembly.

The principal purpose of the regulations is the establishment of a process for appointing an Information Commissioner and deputy.

During the presentation, several MPs questioned the necessity of bringing these specific regulations to the House rather than allowing the minister to independently finalise them.

"The regulations do need to be brought to the house because, as minister responsible for the Access Information Act, I cannot make those regulations without the endorsement of the national assembly. I hope that clears up the questions asked by the members and clarifies why those particular regulations of the selection committee were brought to the house where the minister does."