30 Jul 2024

African Ombudsman and Mediators Association (AOMA) is committed  to capacitating ombudsman institutions  to strengthen their effectiveness in investigating and providing redress.

In driving the mandate, AOMA and the Anti-Fraud Risk Investigations and Compliance Academy (AFRICA Training Academy) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will facilitate  the training of ombudsman institutions in Africa on investigation techniques.

The signing took place in Gaborone on Monday with representatives from AOMA, African Ombudsman Research Centre (AORC), and AFRICA Training Academy.

In his remarks, Coordinator of Southern Africa region of AOMA and Ombudsman of Botswana, Advocate Stephen Tiroyakgosi said the MoU  aimed to enhance collaboration and strengthen the role of ombudsmen and mediators across Africa.

Adv Tiroyakgosi said by aligning with AOMA, Botswana seeks to foster a unified approach to addressing grievances and improving administrative justice.

Chairperson of African Ombudsman Research Centre (AORC) and Public Protector of South Africa, Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka said they have been in discussions as partners, supporting ombudsmanship.

Adv Gcaleka said they were focused on how to advance the skills of ombudsmen within the continent of Africa, citing that the ombudsman was not as static as it was before.

She said the ombudsman had become an evolving profession within their democracy.

In South Africa, for instance, she said the public protector had taken a lead in terms of the progressive constitution that they hold in the nation.

She said it was an institution which was accountable to the constitution and the law with binding remedial powers.

“This has evolved quite remarkably to other African countries, particularly in line with our principles in ensuring that we are able to uphold good governance, the rule of law, good ombudsmanship, she said.

Adv Gcaleka said it was imperative to see which organisations they could partner with  for capacitation.

She reiterated that some of them were not just Ombudsman, as they had powers to investigate the suspicion of corruption and fraud and play a developmental role in the greater anti-corruption fight. Ends