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Honorable Ombudsman Malera gives an interview
The Office of the Ombudsman in Malawi joined various Ombudsman Offices from all over the world, human rights bodies, grievance handlers, integrity organizations, and related oversight and regulatory institutions to the International Ombud Expo (IOE) 2024, in Gaborone Botswana.
The institutions including the Office of the Ombudsman of Malawi; from 29 July to 2 August 2024 showcased their role and operation in tackling wide ranging governance concerns, righting injustices, and bolstering the performance and productivity of governments and organizations.
Apart from having an exhibition stall, which was described by many as colorful and lively, Malawi Ombudsman Grace Tikambenji was granted a couple of times to speak at the big stage to make presentations and share insights.
She also gave interviews to some international Media Houses including SABC’s Channel Africa.
On 31 July 2024 Honorable Malera made a presentation on the value that the Ombudsman brings to democratic societies, in which she called on governments and administrations in Africa and across the globe to open up civic spaces for human rights bodies and oversight institutions like the Office of the Ombudsman.
She said enhancing human rights, administrative and social justice is a prerequisite for functional democracies and thus called for political will in that area.
“As Ombudsman institutions we continue to make distinctive contributions to the protection and promotion of Human Rights, but the increasing incidences of the shrinking civic space and attacks against rights defenders including oversight institutions, personnel are cause of concern,” Malera said.
Speaking to the Botswana Television News Channel, Malera said her office was excited to share with other delegates the successes that the office has registered in Malawi.
Among some of the strides that Malera highlighted are the establishment of the Ethics and Sectoral Ombudsman and the gender, disability and social inclusion approach to its work, which she said is an intentional initiative to reach marginalized groups with Ombudsman services.
“We bring Malawi to this expo to share our stories, both the challenges and the successes. What one hopes to gain at the expo are the best practices that can be replicated back home, furthering our work by building on the successes this far and how to best surmount the challenges that we meet in our day to day work,” she said.
The IOE 2024 also honored Malawi’s first Ombudsman the Late Honorable James Makoza Chirwa as he was among the pioneers of Ombudsman work in Africa and across the globe.
This was the second IOE and was held under the theme: Trusted Institutions: Righting Injustices, Bolstering Quality Governance.
During the maiden Expo in Abuja four years ago, the Malawi Office of the Ombudsman emerged as Outstanding Exhibitor, Best Performer and 1st Ranked Good Performer.
Source: Office of the Ombudsman, Malawi
