By Isaac Zulu
President Hakainde Hichilema should appoint career permanent secretaries, says Faustina Sinyangwe.
President Hakainde Hichilema is expected to appoint new permanent secretaries following the government’s decision to terminate contracts for district commissioners as well as permanent secretaries.
And Sinyangwe has observed that the delayed appointment of permanent secretaries by the Head of State has created vacuums in the operations of government ministries.
Commenting on the development, Sinyangwe advised the new administration to ensure that the civil service is not infiltrated by political party members.
In an interview with Daily Revelation, Sinyangwe, who is former Matero Member of Parliament, observed the growing tendency by some previous regimes to appoint party cadres to positions of permanent secretaries.
“I worked under UNIP, under the MMD and the Patriot Front government. And I know that ministers are policy makers while permanent secretaries are policy implementors, the same applies to those delegated to work at district level,” explained Sinyangwe. “Like I earlier mentioned, I have worked in the civil service for a long time. We worked as career civil servants with relevant qualifications. So President Hakainde Hichilema should appoint career permanent secretaries in all government ministries and provincial centres. We need to have the right people with the right qualifications at the time.”
She further observed that the delayed appointment of permanent secretaries has been creating some vacuums in government ministries and departments.
“You cannot rely on ministers to implement government policies. Most of the work at government ministries are done by permanent secretaries and their respective directors,” said Sinyangwe. “So really and honestly speaking, the delayed appointment of permanent secretaries by the current Head of State has adversely been affecting the government’s operations and functions. Without permanent secretaries, there can never be efficiency and effectiveness in government ministries.”
