Maravi

Government to decentralise Commission of Investigations

Government to decentralise Commission of Investigations
By Fridah Nkonde in Ndola
Sun 19 Feb. 2012, 11:59 CAT

COMMISSION of Investigations Investigator-General Caroline Sokoni says the number of complaints received from the Copperbelt against public institutions has reduced over the last three years. And Sokoni says the government will decentralise the Commission in all provinces and districts in the country within the next two years to increase its accessibility.

During a meeting with heads of departments at the end of the commission's sitting in Ndola on Friday, Sokoni said the commission would also be restructured and upgraded so that the case resolution rate is improved countrywide.

Sokoni said during their sitting in Ndola, the commission had dealt with 48 complaints, adding that 15 cases had since been concluded, five transferred to relevant offices while 28 cases were still pending.

"The commission will embark on a sensitization exercise to inform people about its existence because few people know that they have a body to complain to if they are not happy with the services they are receiving from a particular public company. Copperbelt could have recorded a reduction in the number of complaints because there is minimal maladministration in the province," she said.

Sokoni said they received more complaints from the civil servants than members of the public because they had little or no knowledge about the commission.
She said most complaints were related to non-payment of retirement packages, salaries and overtime, which she related to some officers not knowing their entitlements.

"My advice to you heads of departments is to find means and ways to pay workers monies that is owed to them so that it does not accumulate. It is important that public service workers are appraised annually which would help district and provincial offices to identify and monitor the progress of their officers for purposes of promotions and retirements," she said.

Sokoni said the existence of the commission was to investigate acts of maladministration and abuse of office in public institutions constituted under article 90 of the Zambian Constitution, except for the office of the President and the Judiciary.

"Government will make the decentralisation of the Commission to all provinces and districts a priority within the next two years. The case resolution rate is being addressed through the restructuring of the commission later this year and the computerisation of the case management system," said Sokoni.

Labels: CAROLINE SOKONI, DECENTRALIZATION, INVESTIGATOR GENERAL

posted by MrK @ 6:35 PM