Back-
Hon Malera presided over the ceremony
On 7 August 2023, the Office of the Ombudsman administered the Oath of Secrecy to 40 of its members of staff and interns.
The Director of Legal Services and Advisory, Chipiliro Mangulama, said the ceremony is in line with Section 10 of The Ombudsman Act, which stipulates the need for officers in the office of the Ombudsman to treat with utmost confidentiality any information made available to them in the course of their work.
“The Ombudsman and every other person employed or previously employed in carrying out the provisions of this Act shall preserve and aid in preserving secrecy in respect of the instances or matters that may come to his knowledge in the exercise of his powers or the performance of his duties and functions in connection with those provisions,” the provision reads in part.
The law further prohibits officers for the Office from communicating any such instance or matter to any person or permit any person to have access to any documents in their possession or custody.
In her remarks Ombudsman Grace Malera called on her Members of Staff to adhere to the provision further encouraging them to be ethical and disciplined.
“As a law enforcing and constitutional body, we are expected to always lead by example, so taking the oath is the office’s reaffirmation along those lines,” she said.
One of the officers described the taking of the Oath of Secrecy as a good Launchpad into his career as an investigation and Research Officer.
According to the 2022 Annual Report, the Office of the Ombudsman in Malawi has about 93 members of staff.
Source: The Office of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Malawi
