By: Kelvin Chiringa
Newly appointed Ombudsman Basilius Dyakugha has said that he is filling big shoes, as he takes over from advocate John Walters.
Dyakugha came out successful in a public interview conducted by a panel made up of the chief justice, the attorney general and labour expert, Vicky Ya Toivo.
He was interviewed alongside Tousy Namiseb and Ruth Herunga.
“Well, it is too early really to say how I feel but truly I am humbled for the trust that has been put on me. I am confident that I will reward the trust with excellence. Obviously, he (Walters) is a long serving ombudsman and like you said it is a giant footprint, but always it will look original. Like people say, you learn from old wisdom so I definitely keep him in my diary so that I can always nock at his doors,” he said.
Dyakugha hasn’t really been in the spotlight.
His position means he will have to knock heads with politicians, civil society, activists and ordinary citizens, subjecting him to closer scrutiny.
He also arrives on the scene with so many grievances having been tabled at the Ombudsman as well as recommendations that were never followed by ministers at the National Assembly.
Dyakugha further inherits an office that has had fiscal headaches which have impeded its work although some ground had been made to devolve functions to the regions.
But the new Ombudsman has said he wants to maintain an open-door policy, working closely with the media.
“There is an African proverb that says that if you want to jump from the bridge into the water, you must assess how deep the water is. So I have assessed that situation. I am capable of handling the challenges that lie ahead,” he said.
He will kick off into his new role on the 1st of October 2021.
His priority would be to acquaint himself with the staff, office operations and new environs before he gets into the core issues.
“Obviously if you are going to ask me a week later I will tell you how I will rearrange the operations of the office,” he said.
However, politicians have not taken Dyakugha’s appointment kindly.
“We condemn the judicial service commission’s recommendation to President Hage Geingob, the appointment of the least best candidate as Ombudsman. The public interviews clearly revealed who was the best,” PDM’s McHenry Venaani tweeted.
Justice minister Yvonne Dausab countered, “There were five respectable jurists, on a panel chaired by the Chief Justice. Unless there are good causes the President’s hands are tied, left His Excellency be accused of interference. Please see section 4(3) and 5(1) of the Judicial Service Commission Act 18 of 1995.”
Meanwhile, outgoing Ombudsman Walters’ term was supposed to end July of this year, but had to be postponed due to delays in the interviews.
He was thus made acting ombudsman for two months from the start of August as per the decision of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
He had stressed that he would not accept an extension by five years if the President where to exercise that constitutional prerogative, saying he wanted to retire.