“We Have Received 16 Documented Complaints So Far”

Madam Public Independent Conciliator for the South West Region, what have been the achievements so far with the new and very important office that you hold?
Actually, I have been in office now for the past 15 months. It is quite an experience being a pioneer. I have done a lot of things. Immediately I took office I met administrative and church leaders and the general public to sensitise them about our existence and missions. Thereafter, I have had a series of seminars with the Executive of the Regional Assembly, all the 31 Mayors of our Region and their first deputies. After that, I held meetings with civil society leaders because these are people who work at the grassroots. As such we created a platform on which we could henceforth relate and disseminate the existence and functions of this Public Independent Conciliator Institution.  We also met with market vendors and the exchanges were wonderful. These vendors raised some concerns about some Mayors and together we looked into their work conditions. We have also had meetings with the youth of the Region through their Association’s executive. We have also held capacity building seminars with the youth. We have gone out to the field for impromptu visits to the municipalities. So, it’s been a lot of work and in the days ahead we are going out to the whole Region to intensify our work. 

With all these contacts and sensitization on the ground, how many complaints have you received in your office?
We have received 16 documented complaints so far. We have equally directed other verbal and casual complainants to the right quarters with clear indications and advice as to what they can do. We have even had to hire consultants for some of the burning complaints and so we brought experts to assure that we treat the complaints well and so the complainants go satisfied. I must say that the Mayors we have been working with have been very collaborative.

What are the means at your disposal to be able to do this much?
We are a State institution and so all our funding comes from the State. We have a new office, into which we moved last June, 2022. I seize this opportunity to thank the Head of State for granting us this working space to enable us function with serenity. As concerns our staffing situation, we are 11 including myself in the office.

What have been your major challenges during this initiation period?
There are always challenges.  But we endeavour to overcome them. Some of the challenges have been the impatience of some complainants, who want solutions there and then. Some do not mind about the 60 days required by law and would want that as they tender their complaint I should summon the Lord Mayor instantly and i...