MALAWI | Ombudsman conducted Mobile Accountability Clinics in Zomba district

In an effort to strengthen transparency and accountability mechanisms at grassroots level the Office of the Ombudsman conducted Mobile Accountability Clinics in Zomba District for two weeks.

Through the mobile clinics platform, the Office of the Ombudsman takes its services to the communities to sensitize and empower people to identify and report suspected acts of Maladministration that are perpetrating injustices.

Speaking on the last day of the Mobile Accountability Clinics in the Area of Traditional Authority Mwambo Ombudsman Grace Malera impressed on women, girls, the elderly to utilize services of her office.

Citing some examples of success stories from similar activities in Mchinji, Mangochi and Nkhotakota that were registered during Mobile Accountability Clinics, Honorable Malera said gender and social inclusion remains one of her Office’s strategic pillars.

“As women we are not doing very well in reporting some of the injustices that we suffer in public offices, I would like therefore to urge you fellow women and girls to get vigilant and utilize our office to claim your rights from public officers and offices through the Office of the Ombudsman,” she said.

Prior to the gathering at Mwambo, led by Executive Secretary for the Office, Alinafe Malunga, the Office of the Ombudsman conducted fifteen meetings with Area Development Committees (ADCs), Public Rallies and held an engagement with representatives of Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies and Civil Society Organisations.

Malunga said through the clinics the Office intended to empower local communities in Zomba to be able to hold their duty bearers accountable.

“The clinics also aimed at making our services accessible, we are glad that during the activity we received complaints from communities, and we instantly investigated them for resolutions,” Malunga said.

The Zomba Mobile Accountability Clinics were made possible with support from the United Development Programme and the National Initiative for Civic Education helped with mobilization and coordination of specific events.

Source: The Office of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Malawi