The Institute for Social Communication in Southern Africa (Misa Mozambique), a press freedom organization, on Thursday announced setbacks in access to information in the country's public institutions compared to 2020.

"Of the 10 institutions tested, only two responded to requests for information," Misa notes.

In the study done by the organization, the Ministry of Health gave a positive response to requests that were made, while the state telecom operator Tmcel "responded negatively".

Misa complains about the "absence of a properly organized filing system" and the lack of preparation "of the communication and marketing departments to respond and make available information requested by citizens."

On the other hand, he considers that "a strong hierarchization persists to make information available".

On the advances side, he highlights a spread of content on digital platforms, especially web pages, "a scenario driven in part by the restrictions imposed by the covid-19 pandemic."

The study recommends more training of institutions in information management, strengthening of transparency mechanisms, and intensification of campaigns on the importance of providing information of public interest.

In the study, Misa Mozambique ranked the Ministry of Health as the most open institution and the Mozambique Cotton and Oilseeds Institute as the most closed. 

The Ministry of Health has shown "greater flexibility in the availability of information requested in the evaluation, having responded in a timely manner and without any constraints," justified Misa, also highlighting the information available on the agency's website. 

"In the opposite direction, the absence of organization and proactivity in the provision of information was observed at the Mozambique Cotton and Oilseed Institute," he concluded.

Lusa Agency