Maravi

ECZ eases requirements for position of director

ECZ eases requirements for position of director
By Chibaula Silwamba
Thursday June 12, 2008 [04:00]

THE Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ) board has relaxed qualifications for the position of director. Sources revealed to The Post yesterday that stakeholders in ECZ were surprised at the turn of events. “Clearly, the government has a person in mind who has been targeted by the latest advert, for obvious reasons,” the source said.

But ECZ board chairman, Imasiku Liayo argued that the academic qualifications had been relaxed to widen the field from which to employ and not restrict the position to persons who are experts in the sciences.

The first time the vacant position of director/chief executive officer of ECZ was advertised, it was clearly stated that the would-be applicants should have degrees in science-related fields.

According to an advert published on March 8, 2008, the applicants were required to have a Masters of Science degree in an environmentally-related field.

“A relevant engineering or science based university degree, a Masters of Science degree in an environmentally-related field, a qualification in management will be an added advantage,” read the advert in part.

But about two months later, the ECZ issued another advert relaxing conditions on academic qualifications. An advert published on June 6, 2008, read: “A university degree and an additional qualification in management and/or an environmentally-related field will be an added advantage.”

However, all the other conditions have remained the same.
Sources said since the ECZ was established in 1990, it had always been headed by a person with degrees in science-related fields. The source questioned why the board had relaxed the qualifications in the manner that was unprecedented.

“We are curious because we know that in the past, the government has had difficulties accepting ECZ’s professional advice on many projects,” the source said.
But Liayo said there was no need to restrict the position of director to experts in science.

“We just wanted to widen up the field so that we do not restrict it to engineers or scientists because the good part of the function of the director is also administrative and managerial. So you have an able team of scientists if he is not a scientist, but if he is a scientist, well and good,” Liayo said. “Even if you are an engineer or scientist, you still need your friends to chip in here and there. The idea was simply to widen up the field so that more people can come in because it was felt that we were being restrictive.

There will be an able panel of seasoned administrators, engineers and so on and they will look at the person and they will definitely, I hope, end up with the right candidate.”
Asked on concerns that the ECZ board had relaxed the academic qualifications so as to allow a user-friendly person who would not oppose government decisions, Liayo said that was false.

“No! The director reports to the council, decisions are made by the council. The director can only advise and provide data and information to the council. So the final decision made, whether to reject the project or approve the project is the responsibility of the council. Really, it’s a team, we work together, so I don’t think it’s one man’s decision,” Liayo said. “A director cannot overrule the council, the council is comprised of 15 members and I believe they do discharge their duties without being pushed by the director or the government.”

Labels: ECZ, GOVERNANCE

posted by MrK @ 4:24 AM