PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS AND PROMISES One of the functions the Zambian media has not performed satisfactorily during presidential campaigns is that of checking claims and promises for truthfulness and possibility of realization within stated time frames. This task is important as it helps the public to distinguish between a lying politician only bent on seizing power or a genuine one who clearly knows the demands of the office he or she is seeking and how it functions. Something to consider during this election: who ever promises economic development must be challenged against two facts, namely, the budget for 2015 goes into effect once parliament votes, and secondly, this term is only for roughly a year. What magic wand will he or she wield that could be different from what the time frame and the budget can accommodate? What is immediately feasible and necessary is the promise HH made yesterday during a HOTFM breakfast show – the professionalization of the civil service. I am not very sure what he has in mind but the numerous audit queries in the Auditor General’s report, questionable appointments to the civil service, frequent and unnecessary transfers of controlling officers that we are all witnesses to in the past 3 years clearly tells you that there was something seriously wrong somewhere. The civil service, headed by the Secretary to cabinet, is the engine that drives the entire body of the state. How it functions can build or break a nation’s development aspirations. But because the President determines the functionality of this part of the state machinery, you therefore need a President who has an appreciably high level of understanding of this sector so that he reorganizes it for what it is meant to accomplish. My suggestion would be that the next President picks a Secretary to Cabinet with at least a Masters in Public Administration with not less than 5 years experience in a challenging administrative position. He or she should be deputized by two officers – one with similar qualifications to be in charge of “traditional” administration while the other one should have at least a Masters in Economic development with proven experience in managing large scale projects. The two will compliment each other in that one will be assisting the SC in managing personnel while the other will assist in administering projects and programs.
Posted on: Wed, 26 Nov 2014 06:41:09 +0000
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