Evolution of and prospects for the ombudsman in Southern Africa
By: Ayeni, Victor O.
Material type:
ArticlePublisher: 1997Description: p.543-63.Subject(s): Ombudsman - Africa, South | Ombudsman
In:
International Review of Administrative SciencesSummary: Southern Africa presents a particularly interesting insight into the renewed worldwide focus on the role of the ombudsman in the democratic process. In the first place, the region has a unique history of political change with some of the most intense and prolonged conditions of instability in the continent but it is, in the post-cold war era, emerging as the most confident region in Africa. Second, the ombudsman institution has, for a long time, been closely associated with Southern Africa's erratic history. Indeed, the region has had the highest concentration of active ombudsman offices, both governmental and non-governmental, in the continent. This fact beats all imagination, for the ombudsman was never originally expected to thrive in places that share the characteristics of most Southern African countries. Paradoxically, Botswana, which in classical ombudsman thought best meets the conditions for adoption, is the only English-speaking multi-party democracy that did not have a functioning office as of mid-1997. Southern Africa is a region of paradoxes whose unique ombudsmanship movement should be of interest to anyone interested in understanding prevailing governance concerns and the persistent institutional crises that have bedevilled African countries in the post-colonial period. - Reproduced
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Articles
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Indian Institute of Public Administration | Volume no: 63, Issue no: 4 | Available | AR37449 |
Southern Africa presents a particularly interesting insight into the renewed worldwide focus on the role of the ombudsman in the democratic process. In the first place, the region has a unique history of political change with some of the most intense and prolonged conditions of instability in the continent but it is, in the post-cold war era, emerging as the most confident region in Africa. Second, the ombudsman institution has, for a long time, been closely associated with Southern Africa's erratic history. Indeed, the region has had the highest concentration of active ombudsman offices, both governmental and non-governmental, in the continent. This fact beats all imagination, for the ombudsman was never originally expected to thrive in places that share the characteristics of most Southern African countries. Paradoxically, Botswana, which in classical ombudsman thought best meets the conditions for adoption, is the only English-speaking multi-party democracy that did not have a functioning office as of mid-1997. Southern Africa is a region of paradoxes whose unique ombudsmanship movement should be of interest to anyone interested in understanding prevailing governance concerns and the persistent institutional crises that have bedevilled African countries in the post-colonial period. - Reproduced
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