MALAWI Category 2- Requests for Information MISA Malawi asked the Blantyre City Council to respond to the following questions: 1. What type of permits do people often seek from Blantyre City Council (BCC)? 2. Do you grant these permits to everyone who seeks them? 3. If No/Yes; what are some of the reasons that motivate you to either decline or grant these permits? Give at least two examples in each category? 4. Does BCC have specific ways of giving out permits? Would you list down these ways? 5. Which way mentioned in Q4 above is most effective or mostly used? And why? 6. What are some of the challenges that BCC faces with regard to permits? Part 1: Requests for written information n = 20 Yes No Additional Information • 1.Is there an official designated to take and respond to information requests? (Please state title of officials in ‘Additional Information’) The Public Relations Officer (PRO) 2. Did the institution reply within 21 days? (If less than 7 please state in ‘Additional Information’) • 3. Did the Institution respond to a request for information? • 4. Does the authority publish its procedures for dealing with information requests? • 5. Did the institution provide all of the information requested? (If partially please mark ‘No’, indicate in ‘Additional Information’ how much of the information requested was supplied) • 6. Did the institution provide written reasons for the refusal of information? (If information was not refused, please contact the institution to find out what the policy is in this regard –if the institution supplies written reasons for refusal mark ‘Yes’) • 7. Did the institution disclose information about its operations, budgets, structure etc. • • 8. Did the authority provide information without questioning the aims and motivations of the applicant? BCC did not reply to the written request for information The information about the budget and expenditure as well as procurement procedures was not provided. The Public Relations Officer was not in the office and the person we were talking to (Personal Assistant to the Chief Executive) did not have that kind of information. They only asked for the name of the organisations requesting the information 9. Did the institution acknowledge your request for information within 7 days? • 10. Was the information received clear and understandable? • Total Score: 4/20 Part 2: Oral request for information n = 20 28 Yes No Additional Information 1. Is there an official designated to take and respond to information requests? (Please state title of officials in ‘Additional Information’) • The Director of Energy Affairs – from the written request for information. 2. Did the institution reply within 21 days? (If less than 7 please state in ‘Additional Information’) • The Ministry had already replied to the written request for information. The oral request was made to clarify certain information. 3. Did the institution respond to your oral request for information? • 4. Did the person dealing with your request have a friendly and helpful attitude? • 5. Did officials provide reasonable advice and assistance when seeking information • 6. Did the institution provide all of the information requested? (If partially please mark ‘No’ and indicate in ‘Additional Information’ how much of the information requested was supplied) • 7. Did the institution provide written reasons for the refusal of information? (If information was not refused, please contact the institution to find out what the policy is in this regard –if the institution supplies written reasons for refusal mark ‘Yes’) • 8. Did the institution disclose information about its operations, budgets, structure etc? • 9. Did the institution acknowledge your request for information within 7 days? •