KIGALI, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- Underfunding affects Africa's anti-corruption efforts, African officials in charge of anti-graft said Wednesday in Kigali, capital city of Rwanda.
Most of ombudsman institutions are not fully funded to go down to the grassroots to follow up on corruption-related complaints, said Busisiwe Mkhwebane, South African public prosecutor and vice chairperson of African Ombudsman and Mediators Association (AOMA), at the opening of the 6th General Assembly of the AOMA.
Low funding affects effectiveness of the institution of ombudsman in terms of investigating citizens' complaints, yet the ombudsman plays a critical role in governance by fighting corruption and protecting the vulnerable, said Florence Kajuju, Kenyan Ombudsman and acting secretary general of the AOMA.
The meeting, which runs till Friday, draws delegates from more than 40 African countries under the theme "The Role of the Ombudsman and Mediators in Promoting Transparency and Accountable Governance in Africa."
The theme is in line with the African Union's commitment to "winning the fight against corruption as sustainable path to Africa's transformation," this year's theme of the pan-Afrcan bloc, said said Rwandan Minister of Justice and Attorney General Johnston Busingye in his opening remarks.
Various participants said at the assembly that corruption undermines effectiveness in the delivery of services, leads to poverty and weakens the protection of the vulnerable.
