By Chisomo Phiri
Death has been announced of Malawi’s first Ombudsman James Makoza Chirwa.
Spokesperson for the Office of the Ombudsman Mandy Pondani has confirmed the development.
And in a separate statement,the current Ombudsman Grace Malera says Chirwa championed the decentralisation of the office in 1996.
She adds that this led to the establishment of the Mzuzu and Blantyre regional offices which made the office reachable to many Malawians.
“His legacy will continue to inspire current and future generations to strive for justice, equality and good governance,” Malera says.
Chirwa served as Ombudsman from 1995 to 1998.
An ombudsman is an official, usually appointed by the government, who investigates complaints (usually lodged by private citizens) against businesses, financial institutions, universities, government departments, or other public entities, and attempts to resolve the conflicts or concerns raised, either by mediation or by making recommendations.
