MALAWI SUMMARY in NUMBERS Institution Website Request for information Total score Blantyre City Council 14 17 31 Blantyre Water Board 12 4 16 Central Medical Stores Trust 13 13 26 Lilongwe Water Board 6 12 18 Department of Road Traffic Directorate 13 13 26 Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security 8 12 20 Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development 10 9 19 Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development 5 12 17 Ministry of Health 6 2 8 RESEARCH CONCLUSIONS It is important to note that most government and public institutions in the country have public relations officers or managers to act as a link between government bodies and the citizenry. This is commendable and ought to be applauded. However, it is also important to note that a culture of secrecy is still prevalent in Malawi. This study, like previous studies of its kind, show that most government bodies rarely value the public’s right to know. Out of the nine sampled institutions, only five responded to the written requests for information. Out of the nine websites assessed, only four have up-to-date information. Nevertheless, it is encouraging to note that most of the ministries and public institutions use social networking sites to provide readers with information. Blantyre City Council, Central Medical Stores Trust and Directorate of Road Traffic have commendable websites that are providing Malawians with vital information. It is important to note that the Directorate of Road Traffic has greatly improved since the last research conducted in 2015. At the time it scooped the Padlock Award as the most secretive public body of the ten that were sampled. From a score of 0 on the website analysis in 2015 and winner of the Padlock Award, the Directorate has moved up the ladder to a total score of 26, and second best in 2016. This is commendable. THE MOST SECRETIVE PUBLIC INSTITUTION IN MALAWI All the institutions that did not respond to the written requests for information and do not have websites easily qualify as most secretive. Although some have a web presence, their sites could not be accessed because the government website, to which they are linked, is often down and rarely updated. The Ministry of Health, which has scooped the Padlock Award on two occasions, drives the health sector and ought to be proactive in disseminating information for Malawians to make informed decisions. The Ministry’s website is not updated and the institution did not respond to requests for information. The Ministry makes it almost impossible for the public to access information. The health sector continues to generate negative publicity on drug theft and shortages of drugs in public hospitals. The Ministry should be open and transparent, and readily available to provide information to citizens. Although all institutions that scored below 20 easily qualify as secretive, the Ministry of Health plays a crucial role in the health sector and performed miserably under both the website analysis and requests for information. Therefore the winner of the Golden Padlock Award for the Most Secretive Government and Public Institution for 2016 is the Ministry of Health. THE MOST OPEN PUBLIC INSTITUTION IN MALAWI Three out of the nine institutions analysed qualify as the most transparent in 2016, these include Blantyre City Council, Central Medical Stores and the Directorate of Road Traffic. All these institutions scored above 20, which is more than half of the possible overall score of 40 for both the website and requests for information. Blantyre City Council has scooped the Padlock Award on two separate occasions while the Directorate of Road Traffic was granted the Award in 2015. The results of the 2016 study show a great improvement in the way the Council and the Directorate have performed. Blantyre City Council and the Directorate of Road Traffic have scored 31 and 26 points respectively. 25