Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Times News
Published on 2024-03-23 06:11:23
The recent appointments made by the government into principal secretary ranks have sparked controversy and raised concerns about the prudent use of public resources. While some see these appointments as a way to create jobs for political allies, others view them as contradictory to the government’s call for frugality and efficiency in the public service.
The Office of The President and Cabinet (OPC) announced changes in various ministries, including the redeployment of some principal secretaries, promotion of others to that rank, and the recruitment of new faces from outside the government. Critics argue that these appointments may not align with the government’s emphasis on streamlined and efficient public service delivery.
Despite these reservations, an official from the Ministry of Finance defended the appointments by stating that some are on secondment and do not significantly impact the wage bill. For example, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning recently appointed several new principal secretaries, bringing the total number in that grade to seven. These appointments include individuals such as Betchani Tchereni, Jacob Mazalale, Patrick Zimpita, Ted Sitimawina, Hetherwick Njati, Dorothy Banda, and Accountant General Henry Mphasa.
The Ministry of Health and Ministry of Homeland Security also have multiple principal secretaries, raising concerns about the duplication of roles within ministries. A former government official described the current trend of excessive appointments as “unusual and horrific,” noting that one principal secretary should typically suffice in a ministry where there are already several directors overseeing similar duties.
As the government continues to expand the public service through promotions and appointments, concerns about the increasing wage bill have been raised. The revised salaries for principal secretaries in the civil service can amount to K25.8 million per annum, contributing to budgetary strains and contradicting austerity measures advocated by the government.
Critics argue that these appointments are driven by political motives rather than merit, leading to inefficiencies and bloating of the civil service. Economic experts warn that excessive appointments drain resources from key development sectors such as mining and education, hindering long-term growth prospects for the country.
Willy Kambwandira, the Executive Director of the Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency (Csat), emphasized the need for a more efficient civil service free from political interference. He called for a reduction in redundant positions and a focus on creating a lean and effective public service to better serve taxpayers.
In conclusion, the recent wave of principal secretary appointments has sparked debate and raised questions about the government’s commitment to fiscal discipline and efficient public service delivery. Critics argue that these appointments may not be in the best interest of the country’s long-term development goals and call for a more prudent and transparent approach to staffing decisions in the civil service.
Read the original article on The Times
