TANZANIA CATEGORY 2: REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION The following questions were sent to the Ministry of Constitution and Legal Affairs: 1. Your Ministry is responsible for all legal issues, including government contracts and law reforms; how do common citizens access information useful to them from your office? Do they need to pay for information? 2. In recent days, there have been a number of statements and orders from government officials that infringe the rights of people. Most of these statements and orders are unconstitutional (i.e. one of the RPC talking to journalist said “lawyers should not come forward and negotiate for bails for their clients otherwise they will be joined in the case);” what is the opinion of the Ministry with regards to such statements? 3. Some of the Members of Parliament were complaining during the Bunge sessions that some contracts which the government is involved in, are of poor quality and dubious; what is your statement on this? 4. Your Ministry is vested with the task to supervise the amendments of laws, especially those which are infringing the rights of people. (i.e. the Penal Code on laxity of the procedures which delays justice); what are the measures taken to make sure justice is not delayed? 5. Your Ministry is one of the sensitive areas as itsmandate is to prepare contracts that attract billions of money; what is your plan to make sure that you have zero corruption in your daily undertakings? n = 20 Yes No Partial • 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? • 4. Does the authority publish their procedures for dealing with information requests? • 5. Did the institution provide all of the information requested? • 6. Did 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? • Additional Information According to the information from the telephone operator, a responsible person replied to the letter though she was not able to disclose his/her title. Total Score: 1/20 8. National Housing Cooperation (NHC) Category 1: Website http://www.nhc.co.tz/en / Dealing with the real estate business, the website is filled with updated information on current projects, along with attractive housing graphics. The Corporation also has an updated Facebook page as well as a YouTube account with numerous videos showing various projects. 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? • 85