Warning on service delivery crucial to development

PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema yesterday warned permanent secretaries and other controlling officers of severe consequences if they fail to perform and execute public service duties efficiently.
In a meeting with controlling officers on measures to improve programmes’ implementation in the public service,
President Hichilema said the only reason people are appointed to serve in public offices is to deliver for Zambians.
This is a timely warning.
Permanent secretaries and other controlling officers are accountable for the overall performance and delivery of government policies and programmes.
The success or failure of the civil service and ultimately the entire Government is closely tied to their performance.
The quality of service delivery by Government rises and falls on the back of these officers. They, together with the thousands of officers under them, drive the government machinery.
This is why we believe the President’s warning regarding the consequences of failing to efficiently perform their public service duties is critical to service delivery and reaffirms his commitment to tackling issues of inefficiency,
corruption, and mismanagement within the public service.
As the President pointed out, result and output are more important than processes and procedures. And our civil service needs to prioritise results over processes.
Development, be it social or economic, is closely linked to public service delivery. An inefficient, sluggish civil service can inhibit development rather than facilitate it.
This is why we applaud the President for coming out strongly on the need for an efficient public service that delivers services to the people efficiently so as to enhance the people’s participation in the development of the country.
Our people need a civil service that is result-oriented and not one that is entangled in procedures and processes.
Procedures and processes, important as they are, should not be allowed to be a hindrance, a stumbling block, but rather a stepping stone to quality service delivery.
By emphasising the importance of efficient public service delivery, President Hichilema has demonstrated determination to ensure that the Government operates efficiently and diligently.
The President’s warning to controlling officers is one that must be embraced by everyone in the public service. No one, at any level in the public service, should be a stumbling block to the Government’s mission of delivering quality, timely service to the people of Zambia.
As the President pointed out, civil servants are there to serve the people and ensure they get quality service. This calls for hard work and commitment to serving the people.
In sounding that warning, President Hichilema is taking a firm stand against the obstacles that hinder progress and development. His warning is a call to action, a signal that the New Dawn administration is committed to serving its people better.
As the President said, “we need to ask ourselves, how are we doing? Are we functioning any better?”
His warning serves as a message to all public servants that underperformance will not be tolerated, and there will be consequences for those who do not meet the expected standards.
This is a critical stance, particularly in our country, where the livelihoods of the people are directly influenced by the functioning of public institutions.
President Hichilema’s warning is a commendable move that aligns with the principles of good governance and sends a strong signal that his administration is determined to uphold the highest standards of public service delivery.