By The Namibian (Denver Kisting) 

NAMIBIA has a long way to go towards achieving openness and transparency in Government and public institutions.

So said Sampa Kangwa-Wilkie, programme specialist on freedom of expression and media law policy at the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), yesterday.

According to her, “the current landscape for requesting public information feels like the futile attempt of shooting in the dark with near [to] no chances of hitting the target”.

During June to August this year, MISA conducted research about how open public organisations do their business. The media body does this research annually.

Kangwa-Wilkie said the findings did not paint a rosy picture. She said: “Secrecy still remains entrenched in Namibia’s Government and public institutions.”

According to her, “silence is the tool being used to deny the public information as most written requests are literally ignored and go unanswered despite having officials designated to handle public information”. 

She blames a lack of “procedures of how the public can access information”.

The Ministries of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Environment and Tourism, Home Affairs and Immigration, Health and Social Services and Mines and Energy; Namfisa, the University of Namibia (Unam), the Polytechnic of Namibia and the Anti-Corruption Commission were evaluated this year.

For the second time in a row, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration emerged as “the most secretive public institution”.

In a surprise twist, the Ministry of Health and Social Services, which was judged the most open institution last year, joined Home Affairs in the last position.

The organisations were evaluated in terms of the information on their websites as well as their response or lack thereof to MISA’s questions.

They were given 30 days within which to respond.

Upon enquiry, Gladys Kamboo, the spokesperson of the health ministry, said the results were “surprising news”. 

According to her, she always responds to enquiries “even if it takes time”. She said it should be remembered that the requested information was not always at her disposal. “This is not nice, especially after they said we were the best last year. I have no comment.”

Kamboo said they never received any questions from MISA.

The ACC and the Ministry of Mines and Energy were found to be the most transparent public bodies this year.

Kangwa-Wilkie said Namibia “urgently requires access to information legislation” to deal with the current shortfalls.

http://www.namibian.com.na/news-articles/national/full-story/archive/2010/october/article/govt-agencies-far-from-transparent/

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