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Ombudsman Malera speaking at the symposium
At the end of November 2023, the Office of the Ombudsman (OoO) joined other governance and oversight institutions to attend the National Anti-Corruption symposium hosted by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
President Lazarus Chakwera presided over the symposium, which was on the theme: 'Rethinking Anti-Corruption approaches for Malawi 2063'.
Led by Ombudsman Honorable Grace Tikambenji Malera, the OoO showcased some of its work as an oversight institution that tackles all forms and manners of maladministration in public institutions further to fostering administrative justice. During the event, the OoO, together with other governance institutions in Malawi, stressed the need to strengthen accountability systems as part of the fight against corruption.
The Honorable Ombudsman Grace Tikambenji Malera presented the resolutions to delegates and President Lazarus Chakwera. Malera said accountability is at the center of achieving the Malawi 2063 vision, as backed by its second enabler, thus the need for political will in resource allocation to the institutions that need to be strengthened in the fight. The institutions also proposed amendments to the laws that govern those that were established in the 1990s.
“Time has taught us what is working, what is not working, and what we can do by way of legislative intervention. Enactment of laws such as the whistleblower protection law would go a long way in enhancing the fight against corruption,” she said.
Additionally, Malera said scaling up participatory mechanisms among the citizenry in the work of the actors would also spark social change. President Lazarus Chakwera said that as the country celebrates its 25th anniversary of fighting corruption, people must know that victory against corruption is within reach, hence the need to turn frustrations into hope.
The symposium was organized under the theme Rethinking Anti-Corruption Approaches for Malawi 203 and was part of commemorating the International Anti-Corruption Day and 25 years of ACB’s existence. The OoO and the ACB enjoy a long standing strategic relationship, both as creatures of the Constitution of the Republic through Parliament.
Source: The Office of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Malawi
