17 Mar 2014

Parliament has on Thursday approved 2014/2015 budget proposal of P3.7 million for development budget and P18.3 million for recurrent budget for Office of the Ombudsman.

Debating the budgetary request, MP for Molepolole South, Mr Daniel Kwelagobe questioned the independence of the Office of the Ombudsman, saying he was not sure whether this office was able to take decisions independently without fear of victimization of the powers that be.

Mr Kwelagobe proposed that the independence of the Ombudsman be strengthened. MP for Boteti North, Mr Slumber Tsogwane said the mandate of the Office of the Ombudsman was not clear to the public adding that people expected a lot from it.

He said such people have resorted to asking for assistance at Constituency offices because even if they reported their cases at Ombudsman, they were not properly assisted especially those pertaining to unfair dismissal from work.

MP Tsogwane called on the minister to consider taking this office to the people so that the public could understand its mandate.

MP for Okavango,Mr Bagalatia Arone concurred with Mr Tsogwane that the Ombudsman office must make itself known to the public.

He also questioned the manner in which the Ombudsman was appointed, noting that his or her appointment should pass through Parliament as well as the reports from this office.

MP for Kweneng South, Dr John Seakgosing said it was about time that the Office of Ombudsman be expanded and be taken to Batswana as it was only in Gaborone.

He concurred with other MPs that Batswana do not know the role played by the Office of Ombudsman. ENDS