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Leonard Ncube , Victoria Falls Reporter
GOOD governance and integrity in the public service is key to Africa’s economic and political development through delivery of quality service that legitimises respective governments.

This came out at the ongoing 8th Africa Public Service Day Conference which ends today in Victoria Falls where delegates from across the continent concurred that there is a need for an attitude change by public service workers across the continent for them to understand that their role is not only earning a salary but that they are instruments through which governments deliver service.

The conference is being attended by public service experts, government officials including ministers from across the continent and high-ranking African Union executives, under the theme: “Building the Africa we want, through embracing an ethical culture and underpins purpose driven leadership in the context of a crisis.”

Delegates said there is a let down on consciousness by not conscientising public servants that their jobs should be associated with economic growth for their respective countries as people do not eat slogans political sloganeering.

They said citizens need a means to live hence civil servants should execute their jobs in a way that speaks to the needs of the general populace.

This comes on the backdrop of concerns in many countries, Zimbabwe included, about laxity and bad attitude by public service workers deployed at public offices, as the need for ethical and servant leadership which speaks to the needs of the citizens took centre stage during discussions.

South Africa’s Public Service and Administration Minister Senzo Mchunu stirred the debate when he presented on how public service can be strengthened to appeal to the next generations.

In a follow up interview, he said public service plays a critical developmental role in each country and continent as a facilitator and instrument through which people can receive, feel and consume benefits and feel empowered.

Minister Mchunu said the continent can learn from South Africa whose public space has four components namely citizens, government, service delivery and public servants

“Public service needs to be this kind of instrument that is very sensitive to the needs of people. Citizens are permanent hence should be at the centre of every activity while Government is there at the behest of the citizens who elect leaders. It’s not about appearing on TV but there is a contract with citizens who put their trust through manifestos hence service delivery can’t be taken for granted,” said Minister Mchunu.

He said no matter how effective public service is, as long as it doesn’t speak to economic development and growth, it amounts to nothing hence governments cannot survive through speech making but through the extent and quality of service delivered to all citizens.

“Extent and quality of service is very important if we are to earn legitimacy as public service and government because it is the government that delivers public service. There are few elected government officials hence government employs experts with knowhow, so the notion of public servants taking it for granted that public space is just them and government and that being a public servant is about salary is not correct. This is dominant and we need to relegate it because that’s how people and services lose,” said Minister Mchunu.

He said discussions about salaries shouldn’t turn governments into a mere employer but there should be equity, balance and fairness on how much goes to salaries and other needs.

He implored the continent to share values and good practices.

Delegates expressed concern about brain drain where potential public servants are giving their expertise to other nations outside the continent.

Minister Mchunu said despite being different countries with different political parties, Africa needs to work in unison especially in eliminating corruption and retrieving stolen wealth as well as enhancing tolerance to prevent violence and xenophobia.

This can be done through promoting continental trade.

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Professor Paul Mavima said ethical leadership is key to development of a reliable public service.

“We are expanding the integrity of Government by what we do as public servants hence we need to ensure we are ethical,” he said.
Other presenters also buttered on the need for civil servants to be aware of their critical role in the continent. — @ncubeleon