Moroke Sekoboto
THE Office of the Ombudsman (OoO) and the Law Society of Lesotho (LSL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on advancing their shared interests.
These include enhancing the delivery of justice and protection of fundamental human rights, to ensure that government officials and statutory organizations comply with the law.
The two entities signed the MoU this week, marking a significant step towards their collaborative efforts.
The Ombudsman’s office, an oversight institution over the civil service, and the LSL, the professional body responsible for overseeing and regulating the legal profession, said they recognized the importance of upholding justice, transparency, accountability, and providing effective, expedient, and lawful service to the public.
Ombudsman, Advocate Tlotliso Polaki, said the partnership reflected their shared commitment to justice, accountability, and the protection of fundamental human rights.
The Ombudsman’s office was established as an independent and impartial oversight body tasked with strengthening governance and promoting the rule of law across all public institutions and officers under its remit.
This includes investigating malfeasance in areas such as maladministration, corruption, human rights violations, and environmental degradation.
“It is an honour and privilege to address you on this historic occasion as we formalize the strategic partnership and collaboration between the OoO and LSL,” said Adv Polaki.
“This partnership is a testament to our shared commitment to justice, accountability, and the protection of fundamental human rights.”
Adv Polaki further stated, “At the core of our work is the steadfast belief that effective and efficient oversight must be anchored in principles of administrative justice. Cooperation and collaboration are essential, as they allow us to harness collective intelligence, leverage diverse skills and knowledge, and drive creativity and innovation to solve problems and streamline processes – all in service of the success of our individual institutions.”
Adv Polaki explained that the MOU would serve as a framework for collaboration between the two entities.
The MOU, she noted, represented a commitment to work together in areas where their mandates intersected.
According to Adv Polaki, those were improving access to justice and legal services including legal aid and court efficiency; addressing fundamental human rights violations; reducing delays in the dispensation of justice; and facilitating the referral of unresolved complaints from underserved or marginalized groups for timely assistance and resolution
“As we acknowledge our respective roles in promoting the rule of law and human rights, we commit to fostering a collaborative relationship that will enhance efficiency and effectiveness in improving access to legal services for all citizens,” Adv Polaki said.
The partnership would also enhance investigative capacity through greater collaboration and sharing of expertise, Adv Polaki noted.
“In our quest to broaden our scope, we will be more aggressive in promoting public awareness on citizens’ rights, legal matters, and the roles of the parties in safeguarding justice and accountability.”
Adv Polaki emphasized that the strategic relationship reinforced the principle that no one was above the law, and that those in power must exercise it responsibly.
The parties will also focus on capacity building, training, joint research and development initiatives on areas of mutual interest, including ethics, human rights, and corruption.
“Together, we will engage in these efforts to identify gaps in policy frameworks and legal instruments related to our work, with the aim of influencing policy,” Adv Polaki added.
Lintle Tuke, President of the Law Society of Lesotho, emphasized the organization’s role in promoting access to justice and legal services, as well as enhancing the legal profession.
Adv Tuke said the LSL members had a responsibility, both individually and collectively, to address issues of common interest.
Furthermore, Adv Tuke asserted that the LSL had the power to regulate legal practices and ensure that legal representatives were properly registered.
“We have a shared goal within society of promoting justice and fairness through a system that governs the resolution of conflicts,” Adv Tuke said.
Adv Tuke reiterated the LSL’s mandate to uphold the rule of law, respect fundamental human rights, and ensure that justice was served.
“We are mandated to uphold the rule of law, ensure that fundamental human rights are respected, and that justice is served,” Adv Tuke said.
