Sport, Youth and Child Development Permanent Secretary Susan Sikaneta has sternly warned civil servants in Chama District of Eastern Province against absconding from work, reporting late for duty and knocking off early.
Ms. Sikaneta says those tendencies are against general orders which regulate the civil service.
She was speaking in Chama yesterday when she visited the Chama District Administration block where she was shocked to discover that by 12:00 hours most public service workers had abandoned their offices.
Mrs. Sikaneta arrived at the District Commissioner’s office at 12:00 hours but there was no one on hand to receive her as the office was deserted.
A lone unidentified officer who was found at the Boma, explained to Ms. Sikaneta that the District Commissioner Peter Nyirenda was not present because he was attending to other official duties.
The unidentified officer further said District Administrative Officer (DAO) Geoffrey Chirwa had gone home to have an early lunch.
The visibly annoyed Ms. Sikaneta wondered why working hours were being wasted when government was in a hurry to develop the country.
“I’m very disappointed with the Chama District Administration as public service officers are stealing government’s time by pursuing personal errands,” she lamented.
Soon after, Ms. Sikaneta proceeded to inspect Chama Youth Resource Training Centre which is under construction.
She was impressed to see that the construction was near completion.
She said government was committed to implementing programmes that will benefit youths in Chama District and throughout the country.
The Permanent Secretary is in the area on a familiarization tour of projects under her ministry.
ZANIS
My relatives were caught out.
But in Govt, taking early lunches and reporting late for work are normal and acceptable behaviour. I just wish Ms Sikaneta had been tougher with the erring officers.
First lead by example. After that then motivate the workers. Lastly, give them work to do.
LT this is a diplicated story within the same morning. Leta pics of the week nomba!
And you better have Thandi Banda on the pics so some of us can have something to comment and laugh about lol
Tabafulwa sana madam. Napa Zed pano.
#2 Kambongolo, You 100% right, they should lead by example. It is the same leaders who misuse GRZ facilities, e.g.. sending drivers on personal errands using GRZ vehicles and making private calls at the expense of the taxpayer, the list is endless. Our leaders are just too good at waffling about without thinking.
Madam Permanent Secretary, don’t just talk about “..orders which regulate the public service…” and you expect these people to go and read for themselves, the truth is that our civil service does not have a propoer performance management system. Such a system must ensure that each official has a monthly workplan (MWP), which is then consolidated into an annual performance plan (APP) with clearly stated duties, responsibilities, timeframes and outputs. Each public servant in any position requiring a minimum academic achievement of Grade 12 must then sign an annual performance contract, based their APP. But now as it is, there is nothing to bind them to duty. There’s also no proper education given to them that can enable them understand the nature of the business they are in.