MALAWI CATEGORY 2: REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION The following questions were sent to the Malawi Road Traffic Directorate : 1. What is the Malawi Traffic Information System’s current state of affairs? One of the major objectives of the Malawi Traffic Information System was to curb corruption; to what extend has the new Traffic Information System managed to achieve this? 2. The Directorate registered commendable gains in revenue after introduction of the new System; is this still the case several months down the line? 3. What are some of the disadvantages of the Malawi Traffic Information System? 4. What are some of the key challenges affecting the Directorate in its efforts to improve its operations? n = 20 Yes No 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? • Partial 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 The Directorate’s website has contact details for officials at the organisation who can be contacted for information. • Total Score: 13/20 6. Ministry of Agriculture Category 1: Website www.malawi.gov.mw It should be noted that the Ministry of Agriculture is linked to the official Malawi Government website. Although the main website is updated, there is little information regarding the Ministry of Agriculture because the website hosts the information on different ministries and parastatals. Apart from the website, the Ministry has a Facebook account which is not updated. At the time of conducting the research, the last update was in January, 2015. 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? • 19