ZAMBIA n = 20 Yes No Partial Additional Information • h) The contact details of specific public officials? • i) A mechanism to request and receive a response to electronic messages and requests for information? There is a tool under the ‘Contact Us’ section that allows electronic messages to be sent. Total Score: 11/20 CATEGORY 2: REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION The following questions were sent to MIBS: 1. How many capacity-building centres does the Ministry have countrywide? 2. We have recently heard top government officials in the news stating that the Zambian media industry has been flooded with quack journalists. I would like to find out if the Ministry has put up any deliberate policies to provide for the regulation of the journalism profession in Zambia. If it has, kindly highlight these policies. 3. What major challenges has the Ministry faced in trying to help improve the practice of journalism in Zambia? 4. Lately, there have been calls from the public about the government’s intention to enact cyber laws. It is understood that these laws are meant to regulate the use of the internet. On the other hand, the internet has proven to be an important tool for democracy as it provides people with a platform to express their opinions freely. I would like to find out whether or not these laws, once enacted, will impede on people’s right to freedom of expression. 5. Access to information is key to any functioning democracy and its enactment has been a cry from most Zambians for over 12 years. What is the Ministry doing to ensure that ATI is enacted into law. n = 20 1. Is there an official designated to take and respond to information requests? Yes No Partial Additional Information • 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. 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? • 9. Did the institution acknowledge your request for information within 7 days? • 10. Was the information received clear and understandable? • Total Score: 0/20 6. Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR) CATEGORY 1: WEBSITE www.mlnrep.gov.zm Several pages on the MLNR’s website could not be opened at the time of the writing of this report. Therefore, functions such as “e-services” and “survey services” could not be evaluated. 94