ZIMBABWE RESEARCH CONCLUSION From the survey, one is inclined to conclude that the majority of institutions remain rather closed and averse to placing information in the public domain. Despite many of the surveyed institutions having websites, the websites do not contain useful information and are not regularly updated. A general disdain for information requests was evident amongst the participating institutions. There is suspicion toward citizen requests for information and what some of them term ‘hostile media’. The failure to respond to written information requests by some institutions suggested a culture of secrecy in these institutions. THE MOST SECRETIVE PUBLIC INSTITUTION IN ZIMBABWE The surveyed institutions have a long way to go towards transparency and opening themselves up to public scrutiny. Most of them can easily be classified as secretive after almost all failed to respond to written requests for information. Based on this, the Ministry of Psychomotor is the most open institution of those surveyed as they took time to attend to our information requests in a helpful and friendly manner. The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development follows closely behind in second after their helpful assistance. RECOMMENDATIONS There is need for the government to swiftly align all legislation to make it compliant with the new Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression and access to information. More advocacy work concentrated on pressuring the government to align legislation with the new Constitution is necessary. Already the government has set up an information panel to make recommendations for the way forward. MISA and other institutions must take advantage of this panel to present their findings on the state of access to information in public institutions. There was evidence that some institutions may be willing to disclose information but are lacking in capacity. More work and resources must be directed towards engaging these institutions on how they can improve their websites or information dissemination systems. ZUPCO, for the third year running, had no functional website, did not respond to written requests for information and at the times telephone calls were made (three times) to their offices, the phone went unanswered. It is clear from this that the institution does not take its interactions with members of the public seriously. ZUPCO therefore is the most secretive institution. ZINWA, CMED and ZIFA follow closely behind after they failed to respond to written requests for information, in addition to operating relatively uninformative websites. THE MOST OPEN PUBLIC INSTITUTION IN ZIMBABWE Secondary Education, Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Ministry of Local Government and the Ministry of Psychomotor acknowledged receipt of information requests and recommended further action. A senior official at the Ministry of Psychomotor made the effort to explain issues in person at their offices. The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development responded well to an oral request for information and in addition has a website which shows a budget and legislation that governs its operations. It also shows a clear organisational structure. 141