Authorities in Nakonde District, Muchinga Province, have expressed concern over cases of negligence and unprofessional conduct among civil servants.
Nakonde District Commissioner, Marvelous Sikapizye, said some civil servants, particularly teachers and healthcare workers, are often absent from duty or report to work while intoxicated, negatively affecting service delivery.
Mr Sikapizye raised the concern when Civil Service Commission Chairperson, Choolwe Beyani, and his team paid a courtesy call on him ahead of an engagement meeting with Heads of Departments from Nakonde, Isoka and Chinsali at the Council Chamber.
Mr Sikapizye stressed the importance of discipline and accountability in the public service, urging the Commission to take decisive action against errant officers.
“We have a lot of workers here in Nakonde who are not working accordingly because they think they cannot be disciplined since they are in government. Some of them leave their offices to go and take beer,” he said.
In response, Dr. Beyani reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to strengthening governance and improving service delivery through human resource management reforms.
Dr. Beyani emphasized the importance of decentralization and devolution in bringing government services closer to the people, noting that the Commission’s mandate is to ensure professional oversight in appointments, confirmations, promotions and disciplinary matters
“The Civil Service Commission envisions a people-centred public service that is responsive, accountable and empowered to act decisively in meeting local developmental human resource priorities,” Dr. Beyani said.
The Commission’s visit to Nakonde and Muchinga Province was part of efforts to assess progress in decentralization and devolution, a key agenda championed by President Hakainde Hichilema.
