ZIMBABWE SUMMARY Institution Website Request for information Total score 1. Office of the President and Cabinet 7 2 9 2. Public Service Commission 7 3 10 3. Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe 12 2 14 4. Zimbabwe Republic Police 8 3 11 5. 12 6 18 6. Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation 9 2 11 7. 0 2 2 8. Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services 2 6 8 9. Harare City Council 11 4 15 10. Parliament of Zimbabwe 14 5 19 Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe RESEARCH CONCLUSIONS All the surveyed public institutions scored badly, which points towards a culture of secrecy. While suspicion against those requesting information was not evident, a culture of inefficiency in processing information requests remains. Handwritten information requests were not responded to, meaning that the majority of rural citizens are far from enjoying their right to access information. Generally, websites were badly run with little current information. The AIPPA was enacted before public institutions were online and may no longer be relevant in the current context. The Act still places unnecessary burdens on the information request process, which results in delays even though some of the information is readily available and can be conveyed at the click of a button. A lot still needs to be done in terms of removing unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles to make Parliament truly transparent, such as addressing all letters to the Clerk of Parliament. The 2018 Golden Key Award goes to the Parliament of Zimbabwe. RECOMMENDATIONS • • • The establishment of a Department of Communications in Zimbabwe that coordinates and handles all communications on behalf of the government. More access to information movements and awareness campaigns to improve awareness in public institutions of their duty to provide the public with information. Repeal or review of AIPPA to align it with the new Constitution. THE MOST SECRETIVE PUBLIC INSTITUTION IN ZIMBABWE The most secretive public institution is POTRAZ which did not have a functioning website at the time the research was conducted. Despite receiving a letter with a phone number and email address to respond to, the institution failed to acknowledge the receipt of the information request. Therefore, the 2018 Golden Padlock Award goes to the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe. THE MOST OPEN PUBLIC INSTITUTION IN ZIMBABWE The most open institution is the PoZ, which runs a current website and responded well to some parts of the information requests. 115