By BRIAN HATYOKA –

THE Public Service in Zambia is undergoing reforms to ensure that the values and principles that enhance good corporate governance are upheld, Vice-President Inonge Wina has said.
Ms Wina said there was an ever-increasing demand by the public for the Public Service Commissions to enhance transparency, accountability, prudent use of public resources as well as merit-based recruitments and promotion.
She said with such demands, the Public Service Commissions could not afford a business as usual attitude but gravitate towards a more responsible role that would build public confidence in the manner the Commissions conducted their business.
Ms Wina was speaking in Livingstone at Zambezi Sun Hotel yesterday when she officially opened the fourth general assembly of the Association of African Public Services Commissions (AAPSComs).
The general assembly, which has attracted delegates from across Africa, is being held under the theme ‘Harnessing the energy and commitment of African Public Service Commissions to promote and build the African governance architecture’.
Some of the sub-themes to be discussed during the General Assembly are the African Union agenda 2063, building public service merit and professionalism for good governance and democracy in Africa as well as deepening good governance and democracy through promoting professional ethical public administration across Africa.
Ms Wina said the Zambian Government was currently undertaking the human resource management reforms for the public service which was aimed at creating a public service human resource management system that was anchored on principles and values that promote efficient, effective, and quality delivery of service for national development.
“The Public Service Commission in Zambia in collaboration with other sector Service Commissions, play a fundamental role in promoting and maintaining good corporate governance and public administration in the public service.
“This General Assembly could not have come at a better time than this, when we are about to embark on the implementation of the human resource management reforms as enshrined in the African Union (AU) charter,” Ms Wina said.
She said the Zambian Government had been able to attract and retain more qualified human resources to the public service making it more effective and efficient in service delivery.
“In line with this year’s theme for the General Assembly, my Government implemented the job evaluation and regarding exercise in 2013 aimed at ensuring improved conditions of service in the public service.
“This resulted in better conditions of service and high pay scales that are market competitive both in the public and private sectors,” she said.
Ms Wina said as a result of the measures taken to improve the conditions of service in the public service, there had been a drastic reduction in the brain drain especially in the health sector where there was a critical crisis in the human resource.
Speaking earlier at the same gathering, Zambia’s Secretary to Cabinet Roland Msiska said the General Assembly provided a platform for public service commissions in Africa to share experiences in the delivery of public service.
AAPSComs vice-president Kawaye Kamanga thanked Ms Wina for officiating at the continental gathering.
Dr Kamanga, who is Public Service Commission of Zambia chairperson, also thanked Ms Wina for her commitment to ideals of the African charter in promoting good governance based on merit.