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Auxilia Katongomara Chronicle Correspondent
THE Public Service Commission has given civil servants keen on standing for public office in the forthcoming harmonised elections the greenlight to go ahead while setting aside a provision for them to re-apply for their jobs in the event that they lose in the polls.
According to a circular released by the Ministry of Public Service to all Government departments, civil servants will be allowed to contest in the forthcoming elections.
Soon after the release of the guidelines last week pertaining to the process of contesting in the elections, some civil servant bodies expressed concern over the guidelines and said there should be a guarantee for the Government workers to retain their jobs after the elections.
According to the circular, a civil servant is deemed to have resigned from the public service on the date of being given permission to run for public office by the PSC.
It says that for participation in parliamentary elections, a member would be deemed to have resigned from the service with effect from the date of acceptance of his or her nomination by the Nomination Court.
However, according to a circular, which Chronicle is in possession of, civil servants have a right to re-apply to the Commission within a period ranging between 30 and 90 days after the elections.
The circular reads that for members seeking election in local authority, there is an allowance of 30 days to which they can re-apply for re-instatement. “If a member abandons his candidature or fails to be elected, the member should apply to the Commission 30 days after the election for re-instatement,” reads the circular.
It also states that those seeking election to Parliament have 90 days within which they can re-apply to rejoin the public service.
“The Commission may re-appoint him subject to the terms and conditions as fixed by the Commission to any post or office with effect from date he or she ceased to be member,” reads the circular.
The circular also says the period between the date of ceasing to be a member and assuming duty after re-appointment is to be treated as leave without pay.
Some civil servants who spoke to Chronicle expressed enthusiasm in taking part in the forthcoming elections but expressed concern over getting their jobs back as well as the little time left before the polls.
“It is a good move for us to take part in the elections but we are afraid that we might not get our jobs back and the Public Service Commission announced our legibility to participate in elections late as some political parties have held their primaries and some are gearing up for the primaries.
“I think it is late for us to start now,” said a school teacher who declined to be named.
Another civil servant said it was a welcome move that would encourage their counterparts in the service to actively participate in politics.
“Politics has been a preserve of other professions, if one wanted to be a politician, they had to choose between their careers and running for political office which was risky for some,” said another civil servant.
Reacting to the provisions, College Lecturers Association of Zimbabwe (Colaz) leader and Apex Council chairman Mr David Dzatsunga said conditions for civil servants to re-apply have always been there over the years but queried why one had to resign first before winning the election.
“I haven’t seen the circular maybe it was sent directly to the colleges but there has always been provision for some public service officials to re-apply after resigning.
“But the problem is that these things are being done hurriedly, people must not be punished for wanting to take part in politics. For instance being a councillor is not a full time job and I don’t see any reason why one must resign,” said Mr Dzatsunga.
Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) Mr Raymond Majongwe said the issue of re-application was subjective. “There are a lot of issues that need to be taken into consideration, for example, if one is not politically correct then it means something. Its either they will get their jobs back or lose out for good.
“As bodies representing public servants we will meet and deliberate on the conditions set up by the Commission,” said Mr Majongwe.
Last week, Zimbabwe Teachers Association chief executive officer Mr Sifiso Ndlovu said there should be a guarantee for civil servants to get their jobs back after the elections in the event that they lost.
The participation of civil servants in politics is provided for in Section 23 of the Public Service Act (Chapter 16:04).
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