Malawi Ombudsman repositioning to focus on maladministration, injustice in government
The Office of the Ombudsman has said it is repositioning itself with the aim of exploiting the constitutional mandate by purely focusing on issues of maladministration in public institutions.
The Ombudsperson, Martha Mwangonde told journalists at Wamkulu palace in Lilongwe during the opening of the media training that the restructuring process was also aimed at creating awareness that the office of ombudsman was not only meant for civil servant but rather even those from the private sector.
Mwangonde said her office will be e policing all forms of bad administration in the country, rectifying and remedying of all forms of injustices occasioned to Malawians by various government bodies and set standards for provision of services.
She said for the past years, her office solely focused on labour related cases, something she described to be far from the mandate of the institution.
“For a long time the office of the Ombudsman has been dealing with cases of employment but according to our roles, we are supposed to deal with cases where one faces injustice,” Mwangonde said.
Mwangonde said gone are the days that the office of the Ombudsman acted as the industrial relations court for public servants, saying the ultimate vision for her office from now up to 2021 is to have a Malawi free of maladministration.
She said, “The office of the ombudsman is not there only to help the civil servants when they suffer from injustices but for all Malawians.”
Mwangonde added her office is taking matters of maladministration seriously “and we will not look at who commits the crime but investigate until justice prevails.”
“Of course we have a lot of work to be done and very limited staff but I promise we will do our best,” Mwangonde added.
The Office of Ombudsman is an independent institution entrusted with the mandate of ensuring that Malawians get unique services from the public institutions. It investigates and provides remedy to various cases.
Well I just want to correct the writer of this article. The name Ombudsman is not an English word. It is a Scandinavian word which means public protector.It has no gender connotations. Whether a male or a female holding this post shall be called “Ombudsman” NOT Ombudswoman or Ombudsperson as you are putting it in your articles.
I know you could face threats after threats very soon, dont relent my sister in this noble work you are doing.The stand you have taken impresses thousands but just a few greedy people would want to disrupt you, watch out and be strong.God is with you and will be your Shield. Who doesn’t know how that the ACB Bureau is gone to the dogs? And that one called Lucas Kondowe is just making a jolly walk as there are only a few people behind him. We cant go on like this at the ACB. We cant allow corruption to be… Read more »
Go for it Martha. You have the guts to be our own Madonsela. Take the tractor thieves headon. Dont be like the visibly compromised Khondowe of ACB.