Council mulls Ombudsman’s office

Bridget Mabanda

Harare Mayor, Jacob Mafume has said council should create a position of an Ombudsman to deal with complaints from residents against city officials.

He said council cannot continue using punitive ways to deal with residents and other stakeholders like in the colonial era.

“We are a city that punishes people but people do not have a recourse to complain about a decision we would have made. There is no code to say this officer has taken my things, where do they get the redress,” he said.

He said the council need to create an ombudsman who acts as a person who deals with complains that the residents have against officers.

Mafume added that this development can help to set justified complaints for residents.

“Currently, residents have nowhere to appeal after being arrested or having their wares confiscated, adding that residents must be given the opportunity to defend themselves against offences that they would have been arrested for,” the Harare mayor said.

“If you give them a ticket for example and tell them that you have the right to complain in seven days and if your complaint is justified, we return your things or refund your fine that would be fine,” he said.