adminPublic Service Minister Lucia Matibenga told Parliament on Wednesday the workers were employed by the ministry as youth development officers without following laid down procedures.
Minister Matibenga said this while responding to a question by Mazowe legislator Mr Shepherd Mushonga (MDC-T) on Government’s position regarding the status of the workers.
“In its last appearance before Parliament the Public Service Commission (PSC) acknowledged that procedures were not adhered to since this was a decentralised process.
“From February 2009 to 2010 the PSC has worked with the Ministry of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment to ensure that those youth development officers without requisite papers are removed from the pay sheet,” she said.
Added Minister Matibenga: “As at February 2011 a total of 4 094 youth officers had their contracts terminated while to date 5 662 have been terminated.
“To ensure that this doesn’t recur the PSC is working hand in hand with treasury to ensure that vacant posts are filled with treasury’s concurrence.”
The irregularities were noted in an audit report by the Comptroller and Auditor General for the first quarter of the 2009 financial year.
Government has since embarked on an audit of the whole civil service as part of measures to streamline its operations. The audit was carried out by an Indian auditing firm Ernst and Young and results are yet to be published.
Minister Matibenga said the then Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Mr Prince Mupazviriho, was also directed to assist the commission in regularising the issue.
It was Government policy that only people with at least five Ordinary Level passes could be employed in the public service, with the exception of those employed as general hands or office orderlies who only needed to prove attaining secondary education, the Minister said.
Online Reporter