preview

Importance of the Office of the Investigator General in the Control of Administrative Action Importance of the Office of the Investigator General in the Control of Administrative Action

Better Essays

By Maxwell Zulu (BAEd, LLB, Dip AEd): Importance of the Office of the Investigator General in the control of administrative action Introduction Until the early 1970s, Zambia did not have the office of the Ombudsman or Investigator General. In 1972 when cases of corruption and abuse of power were becoming more rampant, Dr Kenneth Kaunda the republican president then expressed a wish and desire to set up an institution to fight these vices. Thus this marked the birth of the Office of the Investigator General which is also known as the Commission of Investigations or the Ombudsman. This office, among other things, was mandated to supervise the work of the executive by checking on its maladministration . Sad though, the Office of the …show more content…

With the directive of the President, the Commission may investigate the conduct of any person to whom the Act, applies in the exercise of his office or authority or the abuse of such authority. Besides, the Commission may on their motion investigate anyone, where it considers that an allegation of maladministration or abuse of office or authority ought to be investigated. The complainant may be an individual, a body of persons corporate or incorporate, which complaint may be oral or in writing and should be authenticated. The Commission has absolute discretion to override any limitation regarding a complaint that it must be made within two years from the date on which facts giving rise to any such complaint or allegation arose. The Commission may hear the complaint if resorting to other means has induced fear or may cause undue hardship, expense or delay. The Commission may refuse to conduct an investigation if the complaint is trivial, frivolous, vexatious or not made in good faith or if the injury would be unnecessary, improper or fruitless. Should that be the case, the complainant is informed of the discontinuance of the investigations in writing but it is not bound to give reasons. The jurisdiction and powers conferred on the Commission may be exercised notwithstanding any provision in any written to the effect

Get Access