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Country’s challenges undermining quality public service delivery - Kunda

Country’s challenges undermining quality public service delivery - Kunda
By Agness Changala
Thu 24 June 2010, 04:01 CAT

VICE-PRESIDENT George Kunda has observed that challenges facing the country are undermining the capacity of the public service to deliver quality services and effectively steer the development process.

And Vice-President Kunda implored permanent secretaries and other senior public officials to provide effective leadership and management by guiding and motivating their staff to think innovatively and avoid the culture of “This is how we have always done it.”

Commemorating Africa Public Service Day, whose theme was Strengthening Leadership and Management for the Improved Public Service Delivery in Africa, Vice-President Kunda said high levels of poverty, unemployment, high disease burden, poor work culture, corruption, mismanagement and misapplication of public resources, inadequate suitably qualified, experienced and skilled man power resources were among the developmental challenges affecting civil servants.

Vice-President Kunda said the public service should continue to give high priority to the implementation of the administrative programmes as a continuous and on-going endeavour to contribute more effectively to the nation’s development agenda.

He said the public service required strong leadership, total commitment, creativity and innovation.

Vice-President Kunda said the public service must be efficient, disciplined and productive if it were to provide quality services to enable the nation achieve its developmental agenda.

He said the public service should have administrative machinery which the nation as a whole should respect and be proud of.

And Vice-President Kunda said all senior managers should concentrate on making internal system more accountable, transparent and efficient to enable staff deliver quality services.

He said senior managers should adapt best management and leadership practices from other countries.

Vice-President Kunda said the government would remain resolute in its quest to strengthen its political administrative leadership and management capability for the improved public service delivery and, ultimately, realization of the aspirations of the people.

United Nations resident representative Macleod Nyirongo said public service was a pillar of any nation in that it transcended political doctrine and enshrined values such as cultural diversity, transparency, public accountability and client orientation in its service delivery.

Nyirongo said without an effective civil administration, democracy and prosperity were virtually unattainable. The government also awarded ministries and institutions for their outstanding performances in various areas.

Those awarded include the Vice-President’s Office, Auditor General’s Office, Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC), and ministries of home affairs, tourism, local government, defence and energy.

Labels: AFRICA PUBLIC SERVICE DAY, CIVIL SERVANTS, GEORGE KUNDA, MACLEOD NYIRONGO, PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

posted by MrK @ 2:03 PM