Malawi

National Assembly

Openness and transparency

Information about access to parliamentary documents, parliament’s reporting to the public, parliament’s relation to Freedom of Information laws, and lobbying.

Parliamentary documents

The agendas of plenary meetings are published online in advance The agendas of plenary meetings are published online in advance.
The agendas of committee meetings are published online in advance The agendas of committee meetings are published online in advance.
Results of votes on draft legislation are published on the parliamentary web site Results of votes on draft legislation are published on the parliamentary web site.
Draft legislation is published on the parliamentary website Draft legislation is published on the parliamentary website.
Citizens can submit comments on draft legislation on the parliamentary web site

Annual reporting by parliament

Parliament publishes an annual report on its activities
Parliament publishes the parliamentary budget
The parliamentary budget is available on the parliamentary web site
No

Access to parliament

Plenary meetings are open to the public
Notes
None
Committee meetings are open to the public
Notes
When a matter is sensitive and private, a Committee may decide to hold the meeting in camera.
There is a dedicated channel for broadcasting parliamentary meetings A dedicated channel is one that is mainly about parliament, and is accessible free of charge to the general public. The channel might be owned by Parliament or a public or private company. Dedicated channels may be broadcast by parliament, government, or another broadcaster. They may be carried on television, radio or the Internet (webcasting).

Freedom of information

There is a freedom of information law in the country
Yes
Parliament has an office/division dedicated to FOI requests
Yes
Categories of Information that are exempt from disclosure Certain categories of information may be exempt from disclosure
Contents of business (or decisions) before the House or Committee which have not been concluded or submitted to the House (in the case of Committees).

Lobbying

There are rules about the activities of lobbyists in parliament
There is a register of accredited lobbyists