ZAMBIA SUMMARY IN NUMBERS Institution Website Request for information Total score 1. Anti-Corruption Commission 12 12 24 2.Energy Regulation Board 16 2 18 3. Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health 12 2 14 4. Ministry of Health 16 2 18 5. Ministry Of Youth and Sport 2 16 18 6. National Pension Scheme Authority 14 16 30 7. Office of the Auditor General 14 14 28 8. Public Service Commission 14 14 28 RESEARCH CONCLUSIONS It is a fundamental human right to ask for and receive information held by public organisations and bodies. It is critically important to make sure information held by public, and in some cases private, institutions is available and accessible to citizens. The right to seek, access and receive information is guaranteed by Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 4 of the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa. It is also recognised in many of the Constitutions of southern African countries. However, most public institutions in Zambia still have a lot to do to ensure the public has access to information as evidenced by the findings of this study. The fact that most of the selected institutions have an online mechanism for requesting information is an indication that they are willing to make information available to the public. THE MOST SECRETIVE PUBLIC INSTITUTION IN ZAMBIA The Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health had the lowest score. The institution did not respond to the request for information. The institution would do well to invest in some social media presence as well as work on responding to requests for information on time. THE MOST OPEN PUBLIC INSTITUTION IN ZAMBIA The National Pension Scheme Authority, which scored the most points, is the most open public institution in Zambia. The Public Service Commission and the Office of the Auditor General follow in terms of openness. The aforementioned three institutions should be given credit for being professional. The National Pension Scheme Authority has the highest score, which can be attributed to their website and the fact that the institution is well-organised and responded to requests for information on time. The Most Open Government and Public Institution in 2016 is the National Pension Scheme Authority. RECOMMENDATIONS Public institutions should work on strengthening their communication and information strategies in order to ensure that the public has fast and easy access to information; after all, they are public institutions. Institutions should also use social media platforms to communicate programmes, polices and other vital information and not just use them for sharing information about events and other publicity arrangements, as is usually the case. The Most Secretive Government and Public Institution in 2016 is the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health. 101