Mzuzu City Council Celebrates Prestigious Award for Transparency
The award comes as a result of its outstanding performance in a transparency assessment conducted by MISA Malawi
Mzuzu, Malawi - The Mzuzu City Council is celebrating its recent recognition as the recipient of the prestigious 2023 Golden Key Award for transparency.
The award comes as a result of its outstanding performance in a transparency assessment conducted by MISA Malawi, write Tionge Hara and Winston Mwale.
Expressing their delight over the recognition, the council's spokesperson, MacDonald Gondwe, highlighted the significance of this achievement and the commitment to transparent governance.
"We are on cloud nine over the recognition. It's an honour to the people of Mzuzu and our partners who wish Mzuzu well," said the council's spokesperson.
He said the award is a testament to the council's dedication to disseminating information and providing relevant updates on city matters.
Measures taken include updating notice boards with financial and project reports, as well as addressing complaints openly and honestly.
In the digital realm, the council maintains an active Facebook page and Twitter account with frequent updates on projects and essential information.
Although a technical fault temporarily impacted its website, the council utilizes platforms like Mzinda Online and IPPI to document and share information about its projects.
Moreover, WhatsApp platforms are employed to update local communities on critical issues concerning Mzuzu City.
The council's responsiveness to requests is another area of strength, handling inquiries via various channels such as letters, phone calls, messages, social media, and email.
Steps taken to enhance transparency and community involvement include community engagement meetings, town hall sessions for updates and feedback, and regular updates on notice boards for public appreciation.
The council also leverages these meetings to share its plans, projects, and statements with citizens and stakeholders.
Looking ahead, the Mzuzu City Council plans to sustain and enhance these interventions and establish satellite offices inwards to act as focal points for contact, according to Gondwe.
This recognition underscores the importance of transparency and access to information in public institutions.
The 2023 MISA Malawi Transparency Report, launched at the Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe on Thursday, highlights the compliance of public institutions with proactive disclosure requirements and their responsiveness to citizens' requests for information under the Malawi Access to Information Act.
MISA Malawi assessed a total of 10 randomly selected public institutions from June to August 2023, evaluating their willingness to proactively disclose information online and their responsiveness to citizens' information requests.
Among the institutions assessed were Mzuzu City Council, Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority, Malawi Electoral Commission, Ministry of Information and Digitalisation, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Local Government, Unity, and Culture, Blantyre City Council, Lilongwe City Council, and the Ministry of Agriculture.