Ombudsman asks MPs to enhance justice

BY WATIPASO MZUNGU,

A CONTRIBUTOR:

Ombudsman Martha Chizuma has urged Members of Parliament (MPs) to assume a greater role in ensuring that justice and law enforcement systems are working to safeguard the rights of all citizens.

Chizuma said just as Parliament plays an important oversight role over her office, the MPs have a crucial role in ensuring that government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) are adhering to determinations made by the courts and her office.

The Ombudsman was speaking in Lilongwe during an interface meeting with Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee.

European Union (EU) financed the three-day meeting through the Chilungamo (Justice) Programme.

“It is our responsibility to work in a manner that promotes public confidence in the running of the country, especially now when the quality of public services seems to be wanting.

“Put in black and white, failure by MDAs to comply with the recommendations is a serious injustice that ought to be dealt with by yourselves for the benefit of those affected and, ultimately, for the improvement of public service delivery in our country,” Chizuma said.

She said the existence of her office should act as a powerful reminder to public servants that they have an obligation to ensure that their actions are not above or below legal authority.

“My office acts as a reminder that all public servants hold positions on trust to the people of Malawi and thus can only discharge their functions in the best interest of Malawians.

“Anything less than that will result in an inquiry by the Ombudsman and, as the office holder, I will not relent in this noble task. This is what democracy is all about,” Chizuma said.

Parliamentary Legal Affairs Committee Chairperson, Maxwell Thyolera, said MPs are concerned that some MDAs choose to disregard decisions of the Ombudsman without even seeking a court review.

Thyolera said the conduct is unacceptable and stressed that in their capacity as MPs, they will do everything possible to ensure that public impunity comes to an end.

“Non-compliance by MDAs with the Ombudsman’s decisions to remedy maladministration is perpetual injustice to victims who might be our constituents and entrenches impunity in the public sector. Non-compliance should, at all cost, be rooted out,” he said.