Ombudsman's Office to Start Quarterly Visits to Districts

The Office of the Ombudsman will start quarterly visits to the districts as part of efforts to decentralise services starting from January 5 next year, Ombudsman, Mr. Sekara Mafisa has announced.

The Ombudsman said since its establishment the office operated from Maseru only due to inadequate resources but that starting from 2004, five officers from the Ombudsman office will visit two districts three times a year after every four months to hear public complaints in relation to delivery of public services.

The officers will visit Berea on January 5 to 9, then Quthing and Mohale's Hoek from January 12 to 16, Mokhotlong on January 19 to 2, Thaba Tseka from January 26 to 30 and Qacha's Nek from February 2 to 6.

Mr. Mafisa said the most common complaints included delivery of services in hospitals and the issuing of passports. Others are nepotism, corruption and unfair treatment in the civil service. The officers will investigate the complaints so that they can be resolved as quickly as possible.  

 The office of the Ombudsman was established by the Government to protect the citizens against infringement of their rights by the public sector agencies.
 18 December 2003