25Dec

The Secretary’s Desk -September, 2024

The Secretary’s Desk is a quarterly publication that features key events that would have occurred within the PSC during that quarter. This issue includes news on Africa Public Service Day, new PSC staff orientation, a library poll, and the Korean government’s huge grant to the PSA. The document’s headline is President E.D Mnangagwa’s official launching of Madokero Creek Phase 2.

Please click on the link below to read the July-September 2024 Secretary’s Desk.

 

http://www.psc.gov.zw/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/THE-SECRETARYS-DESK-September-2024.pdf

 

 

20Dec

The PSC News Flash

The PSC News Flash is an occasional Public Service Commission publication that has been specifically designed to cover relevant events related to the organisation.
This edition focuses on the Consultative Workshop between the PSC and Workers’ representatives. This event demonstrates the government’s commitment to improving the working conditions of its employees by incorporating them in welfare decisions.
The PDF version of the News Flash can be accessed by clicking HERE for your convenience in learning more about the workshop and its outcomes.

 

17Sep

Secretary Speech on Pensions and Pay Roll Training Workshop

On the 17th of  September 2024, the Secretary Service Commissions, Mrs Sibusisiwe Zembe, together with some executive assistants and secretaries from Line Ministries and PSC Secretariat celebrated Secretaries’ Day at Tamarind Resort in Kariba. This is an annual celebration since 2017, aimed at recognising and acknowledging the crucial role played by executive assistants and secretaries in Government.

Mrs Zembe was accompanied by several members of PSC Senior Management.

Click here to download the Secretary Speech on Pensions and Pay Roll Training Workshop.

12Sep

Skilling and re-skilling of Government Human Capital

Onwards and forwards with the Skilling and re-skilling of Government human capital – Secretary Service Commissions – Mrs Sibusisiwe Zembe, spent Monday morning at the Public Service Academy, Chinhoyi Campus officiating at a workshop to capacitate Human Resources personnel from Line Ministries and PSC Secretariat. Workshop participants included provincial and district staff

23Mar

2023 PERFORMANCE CONTRACTS SIGNING CEREMONY

His excellency the President, Dr. E.D Mnangagwa presided over the signing of Performance Contracts for Senior Public Office bearers for the year 2023 at a ceremony held on 16 March 2023 at the State House. The Government of Zimbabwe introduced Performance based contracts in 2021 for Cabinet Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Chief Executive Officers for Parastatals, Local Authorities, Vice Chancellors for State Universities, and other Senior Government officials.

 

His Excellency referred to the milestone event as a demonstration of the irreversible course that the Second Republic is embarking on towards ensuring that Government systems, processes and personnel are ‘Fit for Purpose’. The Chairman to the Service Commissions, Dr. Vincent Hungwe added that the Performance Contracts were in sync with the President’s Vision to foster a high performance culture across the entire public service.

 

The colourful event also saw high achievers for the year 2022 presented with awards. To note, Dr. Anxious Masuka, Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement was awarded as the Best Cabinet Minister for 2022, with Dr Frederick Shava, Minister of Foreign Affairs as the Runner up. The Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement, Dr. John Bhasera scooped the Overall Best Permanent Secretary.

22Feb

Chief Directors Inducted

Chief Directors Inducted

On Friday 17 February 2023 a class of 36 Chief Directors from various Line  Ministries graduated from a week-long induction training at the Public Service Academy – ZIPAM campus. The ceremony was officiated by Acting Secretary  Service Commissions,  Head of Uniformed Services and Commissions, Mr Dhingindlela Zisengwe.

The induction was meant to orient the Chief Directors into public administration and familiarise them with how Government works. More induction training sessions are on the cards to be conducted for other senior managers in Line Ministries and Government Departments and Agencies.

 

22Feb

PUBLIC NOTICE – PENSIONER

PUBLIC NOTICE

The Public Service Commission wishes to inform the Public that when a Government Pensioner passes on, surviving spouse(s) or relatives of the deceased should immediately notify the Public Service Commission. Upon death of a Pensioner surviving spouse(s) and or children under the age of 18 years will be eligible to claim widow’s pension or child’s pension from the day following the death of a Pensioner.

Surviving spouse(s) and or guardian of the children of the late should immediately apply for pension benefits at any nearest Public Service Commission Offices. Pension application forms are obtained from Public Service Commission Head Office, Provincial and District offices around the country.

In cases where pension benefits have been paid to the deceased Pensioner due to late notification of death, relatives are being advised not to withdraw that money. This money belongs to the State. Surviving spouse(s) or guardian of children of the late, Estate Administrators should not utilise those monies because these are State funds and as such, they should be returned to Public Service Commission without any delays.

It is a criminal offence to withdraw pension paid after the death of a Pensioner. Any criminal activity of this nature will be reported to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).

For any further clarity on this subject please do not hesitate to contact any nearest Public Service Commission offices.

22Feb

Draft Public Service Disability Policy Presented

Draft Public Service Disability Policy Presented

In accordance with its mandate and with the bid to institute disability inclusion and responsiveness, the Public Service Commission, on the 25th January 2023, conducted a consultative workshop at the Rainbow Towers in Harare, where stakeholders gathered to review the draft Public Service Disability Policy. The Policy is intended to help mainstream disability in the Public Sector.

Stakeholders at the workshop included representatives from the Public Service Commission, all Line Ministries, organisations of people with disabilities, Independent Commissions, Apex Council as well as development partners, in particular UNDP & ILO. More than 50 people attended the event.

The Public Service Disability Policy was presented and input made by participants at the workshop. Such input will be considered and co-opted as necessary, as part of the finalisation of the Policy.

The development of the Public Service Disability Policy is in line with the Legislative and Policy Framework in Zimbabwe, which guides that there be inclusion without any discrimination of people with disabilities (PWDs). Section 22 of the Constitution requires all Government institutions to recognise the rights of PWDs and to treat them with respect and dignity. It also provides PWDs should be assisted to achieve their full potential and minimise disadvantages suffered by them, and that there be reasonable accommodation (accessibility of government buildings). Further to that, Section 56 provides for non-discrimination and fair treatment for people with disabilities. The above provisions are also buttressed by both the National Disability Policy (2021) and the Disabled Person Act – Chapter (17:01) Section 8. The United Nations Conventions on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities also promotes the inclusion of persons with disabilities as well as the importance of national development in addressing the rights of PWDs. It also advocates for reasonable accommodation of PWDs

The objectives of the Public Service Disability Policy are as follows:

  • To ensure people with disabilities (PWDs) have equal employment opportunities in the Public Service,
  • To create an accessible work environment for employees, interns and attaches;
  • To facilitate job retention and advancement opportunities for all;
  • To facilitate training and development opportunities for all;
  • To ensure continuity of members of staff in case they become incapacitated during the course of duty; and
  • To ensure continuous sensitisation of employees on disability issues and PWDs.

The scope of the Policy covers, persons who acquire disability during the course of employment, as well as PWDs entering or already in service.

The Policy provides for the mainstreaming of disability in the following areas, among others:

  • Communication and Awareness;
  • Recruitment and Selections;
  • Orientation and Induction;
  • Deployment;
  • Staff Performance and Appraisal;
  • Training Opportunities;
  • Promotion; and
  • Job Retention.

 

Reasonable accommodation of PWDs in employments is viewed as the prevention of discrimination based on disability by adjusting or changing the following:

  • Changing job tasks;
  • Improving accessibility of workplace environments;
  • Reassigning employees who have acquired a disability;
  • Adjusting/ changing computer software and hardware suitable for PWDs;
  • Additional/Special training for PWDs;
  • Availability of support services; and
  • Ensuring there is a budget for PWDs.

The development of the draft Policy follows the undertaking of a Disability Sensitive Baseline Survey in the Public Service, which was meant to inform status of disability in the Public Sector. Following the completion of the Disability Sensitive Baseline Survey, a stakeholder analysis of the results was held in 2022.  PSC then developed the draft Public Service Disability Policy using the results from the baseline survey and desk review research on the analysis of regional and international best practices on public sector reform accountability. These activities were intended to gather additional information to be used in strengthening the content of the draft Public Service Disability Policy in all areas.

 

 

30Jan

PSC Undertaking Service-wide Job Evaluation to Ensure Jobs, Grades, Salaries Match

The Public Service Commission is currently undertaking a service-wide job evaluation in order to ascertain the worth of the jobs in the Public Service. The exercise began in September 2022 and is expected to be completed by end of the first quarter in 2023.

 

The job evaluation exercise is in response to observations of misalignment of jobs – the grades, the descriptions, the mandates, salaries, among other things were seen not to be in alignment.  Evaluating jobs in order to properly profile, reward and weight them is in line with the Commission’s strategic goals as it pursues NDS1 and Vision 2030 national imperatives.

 

In its 2021-2025 Strategic Plan, the Commission made a commitment to adopt Public Service Reform best practices to address challenges and identified gaps in the civil service. Job evaluation was identified as one of the tools which the Commission could use in the transformation programme.  The last service-wide job evaluation exercise was conducted in 2003. A significant amount of technological, socio-political and economic changes has taken place since then.

 

The changes in the operating environment have given rise to a number of challenges in the workplace.  The challenges faced include the following:

  • Redundant jobs
  • Lack of career progression in some jobs
  • Duplication of duties and responsibilities among different jobs
  • Mismatch between grade, qualifications and salary

 

The job evaluation aims at addressing the above challenges.  It also provides a basis for establishing the correct level and value of each job, or position, within the Public Service. Below are some of the benefits of conducting a job evaluation exercise:

  • It helps in removing disparities in wage structures leading to proper placement of workers in their jobs
  • It provides greater uniformity in salary grades, thus simplifying salary administration
  • Helps in reviewing job rates in light of technological changes with which job contents change
  • Results in new and updated job descriptions and job grades
  • The data collected for job evaluation also helps in the recruitment of the right personnel for the job
  • Since job evaluation aims to reward employees’ suitability, it will help to build employee morale and bring job satisfaction

Job evaluation involves three successive phases: job profiling/analysis; job writing; and job grading.

 

How are the jobs being analysed? Job analysis is also known as role analysis. It is a process that identifies the content of a job in terms of the activities that make up a job.  It includes attributes or requirements necessary to perform those activities. The process of job analysis involves gathering information about the duties of a job, the conditions of work, and some basic qualifications and experience. Tools used for job analysis include interviews, observation, conference of experts, questionnaires, among others. The Public Service Commission is making use of the questionnaire. In line with technological advances and efforts to digitalise the Public Service, an online questionnaire is being used. Job evaluation teams are also physically visiting areas with no Internet connectivity to ensure wide-spread coverage across the country.

 

The service-wide  PSC job evaluation is being done by a consultancy firm, which is working with trained members from the civil service. A total of 146 civil servants were trained for the job evaluation – 42 of them from the Public Service Commission Secretariat; and 104 from Line Ministries.

 

The exercise is covering all Line Ministries and ongoing in all provinces. Respondents to the questionnaire are a sampling of job holders. Job holders are content experts in their own right.

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