MALAWI CATEGORY 2: REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION The following questions were sent to Lilongwe City Council: 1. How do you plan to end the problem of congestion in areas such as Mchesi? 2. Many people trade on city roadsidesdespite your efforts to stop the practice. What are your future plans to stop this problem? 3. How does the Council use money received from payment of city rates? 4. What plans does the Council have to improve waste disposal? 5. How can you describe your relationship with the media? n = 20 Yes 1. 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? • No 4. Does the authority publish their procedures for dealing with information requests? 5. Did the institution provide all of the information requested? Additional Information • • 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? Partial • Total Score: 10/20 4. Malawi Electoral Commission Category 1: Website http://www.mec.org.mw The Malawi Electoral Commission website has the following on its homepage: ‘Home’, ‘About MEC’, ‘Elections’, ‘Downloads’, ‘Operations’, ‘News’, ‘Accreditation’, ‘Adverts’, ‘Publication and Reports’, and ‘Contacts’. These taps have drop-down menus with links to others relevant sites and documents. The Commission also has a Facebook page with up-to-date content. 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? • e) Information about procurement procedures, signed contracts? • f) Vacancy and employment procedures? • g) The address, telephone number, and working hours of the institution? • The website does not display the working hours of the MEC. 29