MALAWI CATEGORY 2: REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION The following questions were sent to MERA: 1. What are some of the notable achievements that MERA has registered over the past five years? 2. How effective was your engagement with the public on the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM)’s base tariff application? 3. Malawi continues to experience limited power supply which is affecting all sectors of the economy. What long-term plans does MERA have to assist in resolving this issue, if any? 4. What is MERA’s relationship with the media? 5. What is MERA’s annual budget? n = 20 1. Yes No Additional Information • Is there an official designated to take and respond to information requests? 2. Did the institution reply within 21 days? • 3. Did the institution respond to the request for information? • • 4. Does the authority publish their procedures for dealing with information requests? • 5. Did the institution provide all of the information requested? • 6. Does the institution provide written reasons for the refusal of information? 7. Partial • Did the institution disclose information about its budgets? • 8. Did the authority provide information without questioning the aims and motivations of the applicant? 9. Did the institution acknowledge your request for information within 7 days? • 10. Was the information received clear and understandable? • Total Score: 14/20 4. Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) CATEGORY 1: WEBSITE www.mec.org.mw The MEC’s website has the following on its homepage: ‘Home,’ ‘About MEC,’ ‘Elections,’ ‘Downloads,’ ‘Operations,’ ‘News,’ ‘Accreditation,’ ‘Adverts,’ ‘Publication and Reports,’ and ‘Contacts.’ These pages have drop-down menus with links to other relevant sites and documents. The website is updated. However, some press releases were not dated, which caused the researcher to have a difficult time identifying the dates. The site also has links to the commission’s Facebook and Twitter accounts. There is also a blog connected to the website. All the social media accounts are updated. There is a section on ‘Elections’ that provides detailed information on all electoral processes and their results. n = 20 1. Does this website contain up-to-date information? Yes No Partial Additional Information • 2. Does the website contain the following: a) A description of its powers, as well as data on the organisational structure, the functions and the responsibilities of the administration? • b) A list of laws, Acts etc issued within the scope of its powers? • c) Reports, policies, programmes? • d) Budget and expenditure? 28 • No specific information on budgets is provided but the website has a ‘Feedback’ section with information on budgets.