ZIMBABWE Research Conclusions It appears from the sampling method employed in this research that the majority of institutions remain rather closed when it comes to placing information in the public domain. Although eleven of the twelve sampled institutions had functional websites, only eight of these had relatively up-to-date information. THE Most Secretive Public Institution in ZIMBABWE Most of the public institutions under review can easily be qualified as being secretive especially in light of their failure to respond to written requests for information that were made during the research period. However, for the second year running, the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO), which also performed dismally in the 2012 survey, has not improved and finds itself firmly anchored at the bottom of the log as the most secretive of the surveyed institutions. This is primarily so because it has no functional website from which information about its operations can be accessed. It also failed to respond to written requests for information. Given the mandate and public interest nature of ZUPCO, it is inexcusable for such an institution to have no website, as its operations are a matter of national interest given the fact that it is a national passenger ferrying company. The Most Open Public Institution in ZIMBABWE The Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) is arguably this year’s most open and transparent institution in Zimbabwe after it responded to all the information requested, while the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (ZIMSEC) is the most improved. Given the standard principles on Access to Information as well as the criteria set for this research, these institutions fared significantly better than the other institutions surveyed. Therefore, based on this survey’s methodology and findings, the SRC proved itself to be a deserving candidate for the 2013 Golden Key Award for the Most Open and Transparent Government Institution in Zimbabwe while the ZIMSEC qualifies as runner-up. Recommendations In light of the foregoing, MISA welcomes the provision of an express constitutional guarantee on access to information. MISAZimbabwe is thus strongly encouraged by the spirit of the new constitution with the fervent hope this will foster a new era of openness and transparency amongst public institutions. This legal paradigm shift should now begin to manifest itself through a marked change in the attitude of public institutions on the matter of access to information. 130 The foregoing survey also shows there is an imperative need to either repeal or at least realign repeal provisions of AIPPA (that make access to information held by public bodies a cumbersome process) with the spirit and letter of the new constitution. These should be replaced with new ATI provisions that compel public institutions to periodically release information about their operations, establish monitoring mechanisms on public bodies’ compliance, and create penalties for the breach of the law, among other provisions that are in sync with international instruments on freedom of expression and access to information. These tenets are central to a culture of transparency and good governance.