04 Mar 2021

Vice President Slumber Tsogwane has welcomed the establishment of the Office of the Ombudsman branch in Maun, saying it stood to benefit Boteti East residents.

Debating the 2021/22 budget allocations to the Office of the Ombudsman, Mr Tsogwane said the organisation was important as it dealt with issues which led to disgruntlement, especially in the public service.

He said it was important for the office to open a branch in the rural area, where there were many issues such as transfers.

The Vice President welcomed the collaboration with institutions such as the African Ombudsman Research Centre and said officers should take advantage of skills earned to undertake local research and even work in those institutions.

For his part, MP for Mochudi West, Mr Mmusi Kgafela said Botswana’s Ombudsman was more independent and the appointment could be challenged in the court of law.

He said under the Ombudsman Act, the Ombudsman has to be appointed by the President in consultation with the Leader of Opposition, adding that the president was not immune to courts and therefore any decisions could be challenged.

MP Kgafela said when a department ignored recommendations from the Ombudsman, Parliament could take necessary measures, or criminal charges could be brought, although the charges, set in 1997, were lenient.

He further said it was an administrative irregularity for a government department not to follow recommendations from the Ombudsman.

MP Kgafela responded to what the opposition members said, reminding them that absolute separation of powers was impossible and it made it difficult for the country to be governed.

He said the Ombudsman was independent as it had its own Act, adding that there had to be a government of separate institutions, but sharing power.

Member of Parliament for Molepolole North, Mr Oabile Regoeng said the Ombudsman served the public officers well as there were reports of abuse of power and favouritism.

However, he said the office should intensify its public education campaign as people were not aware of its existence or services provided.

Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Dumezweni Mthimkhulu had asked Parliament to approve a recurrent budget of P35 090 40 for the 2021/22 financial year.

The mandate of the Ombudsman is to constantly check on the legality and fairness of government decisions through its investigations.

Mr Mthimkhulu said 408 new cases were registered during 2020/21 financial year, while 560 cases were carried from previous years, bringing the total number of cases to 968.

He said 435 cases were completed and said the performance of the Ombudsman was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The assistant minister said 50 to 60 per cent of cases registered were complaints from public sector employees due to failure by ministries and departments to observe laid down rules and regulations.

He said the complaints were generally about welfare and general conditions of service.

Mr Mthimkhulu said this was frustrating as the Office of the Ombudsman was established by an Act of Parliament to receive grievances from the general public over services provided by the public officers, whose complaints overwhelmed the office.

The remaining 40 per cent of complaints from the general public are about poor service delivery, damage to property, refusals or delays of issuance of permits and issues of compensation. ENDS