ESWATINI SUMMARY Organisation Website Request for information Total score 1. Deputy Prime Minister’s Office 8 13 21 2. Eswatini Revenue Authority 12 3 15 3. Eswatini Tourism Authority 7 3 10 4. Eswatini Youth Enterprise Fund 15 15 30 5. Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade 10 13 23 6. Ministry of Health 12 3 15 7. Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs 8 13 21 8. Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration and Development 5 13 18 9. Municipal Council of Manzini 19 15 34 6 15 21 10. National Disaster Management Agency RESEARCH CONCLUSIONS RECOMMENDATIONS A lot more needs to be done by the media, civil society and citizens to gain the right to information in Eswatini. y Eswatini needs to enact the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act in order to create an open and transparent environment in the country. y Citizens should be educated about their rights to access of public information. y Communication officers at public organisations should be educated in how to respond appropriately to information requests. It is a cause for concern that the Ministry of Health is among the public organisations that had withheld information for this study, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Alarmingly, the Eswatini Revenue Authority, which is in charge of the COVID-19 Relief Fund, did not respond to the request for information either. The same applies to the Eswatini Tourism Authority, charged with the responsibility to educate the hoteliers, domestic and foreign tourists about the COVID-19 Tourism Guidelines. THE MOST SECRETIVE PUBLIC ORGANISATION IN ESWATINI THE MOST OPEN PUBLIC ORGANISATION IN ESWATINI The Eswatini Tourism Authority has a website which contains information about products and services, but lacks real information about the authority. There was no response to the request for information, and no information was received. The Municipal Council of Manzini has an up-to-date website, which includes recent developments at the municipality. This organisation has made getting in touch easy through the use of online platforms such as Facebook. The council responded timeously to the information request, provided information without questioning the aims and motivations of the applicant, and delivered clear and understandable information within the timeframe provided. Therefore, the 2020 Golden Padlock Award goes to the Eswatini Tourism Authority. Therefore, the 2020 Golden Key Award goes to the Municipal Council of Manzini. RETURN TO CONTENTS PAGE 41