Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THE Public Service Commission (PSC) has assured civil servants that the Government’s broader digitalisation and modernisation agenda for public services, tied to the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI), is not a threat to their jobs.
The PSC said some civil servants will be reassigned to other roles within the service, while others will be involved in digitising the vast print records held by the Government.
The assurance comes amid jitters within the civil service that jobs will be lost through the digitisation process – and the uncertainty deepened earlier this year when the Government rolled out a digital payslip system for all civil servants under the Integrated Modern Payroll and Pension System (IMPPS), known as the GOV-PAY project.
The GOV-PAY project is part of the Government’s efforts to modernise its payroll and pension systems to provide a more efficient and accurate system for managing civil servants’ salaries and benefits.
In an interview on the sidelines of the Public Service Commission (PSC) and Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences (MSUAS) public lecture held in Mutare on Tuesday, PSC Commissioner, Professor Themba Khombe said: “We know that automation may render certain individuals redundant. However, we have a strategy in place to retrain those affected by the introduction of technology. This technology requires people to operate it, and most of those who fear job losses due to Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be the same individuals employed to utilise AI for our purposes.
“The primary function of AI is to digitise records, as it cannot function without digitalised records. Therefore, these individuals will be utilised to digitise the vast records held by the service. When using these appliances, they rapidly process records, reducing the time taken to retrieve information from years to mere minutes. We do not anticipate major job losses, and some affected individuals will be reassigned within the service. If retrenchments are necessary, appropriate packages will be made available to mitigate the impact of job losses.”
Government is the largest employer in the country, with a total of 172 133 workers – with Primary and Secondary Education Ministry employing 131 768 people, while Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries, and Rural Development Ministry has 15 187 employees. Youth, Sport, Arts, and Recreation Ministry has 2 881 employees.
The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education has 4 856 employees, while the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works has 3 801 employees.
The Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage has 3 441 workers, while the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has 1 603 employees. The Ministry of Women Affairs, Community Development, and SMEs has 2 384 employees, while Public Service, Labour, and Social Welfare Ministry has 1 035 workers, the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development has 710 employees and Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ministry has 938 workers, while other ministries have a combined 3 529 employees.
Regarding the skills gap in the civil service, Commissioner Professor Khombe said Zimbabweans who have left the country for greener pastures in the Diaspora, and have reached retirement age set in those countries are being lured back home to reduce the skills gap.
“We are living in a global community, and competition is no longer limited to Zimbabwe. We are also competing with other markets. If our nationals possess the competencies that enable them to work for Google or secure high-paying jobs, we know that, as long as we maintain contact with them, they will repatriate remittances to Zimbabwe.
“I am sure we have all witnessed the significant amount of money being remitted by those in the Diaspora, contributing to the improvement of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP). More importantly, when these individuals eventually return home, they bring their skills with them.
“We currently have a programme aimed at attracting retired individuals in the diaspora. In some countries, people retire early, at 55, whereas in Zimbabwe, one can work until the age of 70. We are tapping into this resource, encouraging them to bring their knowledge, skills, and technology to enhance our situation. We are utilising our embassies to locate and contact them.
“In fact, many are now interested in returning home, but they require incentives, such as accommodation and access to their pensions. Our strategy aims to address these concerns, making it feasible for them to return and contribute to Zimbabwe’s development,” he said.
Professor Khombe said the PSC has also secured vital skilled workers through scholarship programmes offered by friendly countries to locals.
“We have been utilising this strategy, bonding students, extensively. We encourage our students to take advantage of opportunities provided by countries such as India, China, Russia, and others, where they can pursue courses in various technical fields.
“This includes countries in Eastern Europe and South Africa, which continue to offer us scholarships. These scholarships address specific challenges and gaps in our system. We encourage students to take up these opportunities, and upon their return, they are bonded to serve the country for a specified period, typically one to two years. We do not discourage individuals from acquiring qualifications abroad, as it ultimately benefits Zimbabwe,” he said.
The theme of the public lecture was: “Empowering Future Innovators: Harnessing Modern Science, Sustainable Development and Employability in Zimbabwe”.
