ZIMBABWE CATEGORY 2: REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION Part 1: Request for written information The following questions were sent to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural and Urban Planning 1) How many people are on the waiting list for accommodation in Zimbabwe’s Harare alone? 2) Do you think the ministry has the capacity to provide accommodation to the majority of the citizens? 3) What initiatives have you taken to ensure that you provide for adequate housing as the ministry? n = 20 Yes No Additional Information 1. Is there an official designated to take and respond to information requests? (Please state title of officials in ‘Additional Information’) s 2. Did the institution reply within 21 days? (If less than 7 please state in ‘Additional Information’) s 3. Did the Institution respond to a request for information? s 4. Does the authority publish their procedures for dealing with information requests? s 5. Did the institution provide all of the information requested? (If partially please mark ‘No’, indicate in ‘Additional Information’ how much of the information requested was supplied) s 6. Did the institution provide written reasons for the refusal of information? (If information was not refused, please contact institution to find out what the policy is in this regard – if they supply written reasons for refusal mark ‘Yes’) s 7. Did the institution disclose information about its operations, budgets, structure etc. s 8. Did the authority provide information without questioning the aims and motivations of the applicant? s There is no designated Public Relations Department, however an official from research and development said he deals with information matters s 9. Did the institution acknowledge your request for information within 7 days? s 10. Was the information received clear and understandable? Total Score: 2/20 Part 2: Request for oral information Questions as per written request. n = 20 Yes No s 1. Is there an official designated to take and respond to information requests? (Please state title of officials in ‘Additional Information’) 2. Did the institution reply within 21 days? (If less than 7 please state in ‘Additional Information’) Public Relations Officer s s 3. Did the institution respond to your oral request for information? 4. Did the person dealing with your request have a friendly and helpful attitude? Additional Information s 5. Did officials provide reasonable advice and assistance when seeking information? s 6. Did the institution provide all of the information requested? (If partially please mark ‘No’, and indicate in ‘Additional Information’ how much of the information requested was supplied) s 7. Did the institution provide written reasons for the refusal of information? (If information was not refused, please contact institution to find out what the policy is in this regard – if they supply written reasons for refusal mark ‘Yes’) s 8. Did the institution disclose information about its operations, budgets, structure etc. s 9. Did the institution acknowledge your request for information within 7 days? s 10. Was the information received clear and understandable? s Total Score: 8/20 133