18 Sep 2013

Central District councillors have been urged to sell the office of the Ombudsman to Batswana. Addressing the councillors during the ongoing Central District Council meeting in Serowe on September 17, regional head of Ombudsman, Mr Edwin Batsalelwang said they had realised that a number of Batswana were not aware of what Ombusdman stood for.

Thus, Mr Batsalelwang called on councillors to help the office since they always interacted with Batswana during kgotla meetings. He noted that they were better placed to spread word on how best they could utilise the office.

He pointed out that among the roles of the Ombudsman, were to investigate maladministration, abuse of power in the public sector and to review the lawfulness of public authorities. He further highlighted that they had 17 investigating officers to serve the entire nation.

Also, he pointed out that there were no qualifications for someone to be appointed an Ombudsman saying the common practice was that lawyers had been the ones appointed. He pointed out that the current Ombudsman was the only one who had no legal background.

Meanwhile a number of councillors concurred with the officer saying the office of the Ombudsman was not visible. They wondered if the office was doing enough to market it and make it visible to the general public.

Councilor Thomas Kgethenyane of Khumaga Ward said the office of the Ombudsman did not have any significance because it was not independent. Cllr Kgethenyane said they were not free to investigate as they were under the Directorate of Public Service Management. Ends