Parliament and the Office of the Ombudsman Complement Each Other - MPs are Told

The Office of the Ombudsman held a national workshop on Parliament – Ombudsman relations at the National Convention Centre, Maseru, at the beginning of May stressing the partnership and complementarities of the two institutions in the democratic development of Lesotho. 

Organised with financial assistance from the Institutional Development Division Commonwealth Secretariat London, the workshop was meant to re-familiarise MPs with the workings of the Ombudsman in a democratic Lesotho; review the role of Parliament in enhancing the effectiveness of the Office in fostering good governance; review the relationship between the Ombudsman’s Office and Parliament and foster good relations between the two institutions. It was also expected to explore possibilities and lay foundations for the establishment of a Parliamentary Select Committee on the Ombudsman institution. 

Ombudsman Mr. S.S. Mafisa presenting a paper on “The role of the Ombudsman in dispute resolution in Lesotho”, said for the first time in the ten years of its existence, the Office found itself carrying out statutory inspection of prisons and hospitals from the beginning of 2003. 

“In some prisons there have been complaints of torture of prisoners by the warders. The Ombudsman has had to investigate, separately, these torture cases and to make reports thereon. …Hospitals are mostly in need of essential equipment such as X-Ray machines and sterilizers”. 

Compliance with the Ombudsman’s recommendations is an important part of the equation as it shows that the institution is taken seriously. There were some Government agencies that still did not take the Office seriously and Parliament could be of assistance in those, the country’s Ombudsman said. 

Mr. Mafisa said to be effective in his performance; the Ombudsman should be given support not only by the Legislature but also by the Executive. Political leadership is the natural, ultimate beneficiary of a clean, untainted public service, what the Ombudsman institution is striving to achieve, he said. 

Retired Ombudsman of Malawi, Mr. E.D.A. Chibwana, presented a paper, ”Towards the Harmonization of the Establishment and Mandate of the Office of The Ombudsman”, showing how Government has an obligation to provide sufficient funds to enable the Ombudsman to perform his duties and functions. 

Mr. Chibwana said the success of the Office depends on political will and the culture of accepting the Ombudsman as a watchdog against maladministration and disregard for human rights. For this to be achieved, the Ombudsman must be independent and adequately funded, he said. 

Advocate Lethebe Maine, Ombudsman of Botswana, the other guest speaker at the workshop, spoke on “the Role of the Ombudsman in Deepening the Tenets of Democracy”. 

Opening the workshop earlier, the Prime Minister, Mr. P.B. Mosisili emphasised the close relationship between Parliament and the Office of the Ombudsman and said the institutions, therefore, need to have a thorough understanding of this partnership so that they may keep it alive and safeguarded.” 

Members of both Houses, the National Assembly and Senate attended the workshop.

14 May 2004