231122E – OMBUDSMAN’S OFFICE RECEIVES OVER 4,400 COMPLAINTS

231122E – OMBUDSMAN’S OFFICE RECEIVES OVER 4,400 COMPLAINTS

Maputo, 7 Nov (AIM) – The office of the Mozambican ombudsman, Isac Chande, has attended to about 4,400 complaints and claims from citizens over the past ten months.

Speaking to reporters in Maputo on Monday, after a visit to his office by deputies of the Commission on Public Administration of the Mozambican parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, Chande said this number of complaints showed an increase in the number of people who understand the importance of his office, although he admitted that many Mozambicans still have no idea what the Ombudsman does.

The position of Ombudsman was set up as a channel through which citizens can call for the defence of legality and of justice in the performance of the public administration. Chande said a joint effort is under way among the public institutions to explain the role and attributes of the ombudsman throughout the country.

“We are aware that many Mozambicans do not know what the role of the ombudsman is. So it is our responsibility and that of other state bodies to continue to publicise the attributes and powers of the ombudsman”, said Chande. “We shall not rest until we are much closer to ensuring that the majority of Mozambicans understand the legal mandate of the ombudsman”.

The chairperson of the parliamentary commission, Lucilia Hama, stressed the importance of the ombudsman in the context of transparency in implementing state activities.

She said the Commission on Public Administration wanted the ombudsman to act as its eyes. “He helps in the implementation of the public administration. We want to know what the challenges are so that the services can be extended to other provinces”, she stressed.
(AIM)
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