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Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
GOVERNMENT has launched leadership skills development training for senior public servants in a bid to enhance productivity and efficiencies to achieve targets set under National Development Strategy (NDS1).
The training conducted in Mutare was organised by the newly established Public Service Academy to inculcate a culture of high performance, patriotism and servant leadership in civil servants.
It focused on transformational leadership, building networks, promoting team work, conflict resolution and emotional intelligence, among other things.
This comes as heads of Government ministries and agencies, cabinet ministers, permanent secretaries, chairpersons and chief executive officers of state owned enterprises and local authorities recently signed performance contracts.
Addressing delegates, Secretary of the Public Service Commission (PSC), Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe said civil servants need to horn leadership skills that can propel them further in their respective fields.
“The signing of performance contracts marked an emphatic departure from the lackadaisical approach of the past. No longer will mediocrity be accepted; lacklustre performances will no longer find a comfortable home within the public service. High performance will be rewarded while non-performance will be dis-incentivised.
“Improving livelihoods, achieving inclusive, equitable economic growth and sustainable development which leaves no one and no place behind are the key tenets of this administration. Productivity and efficiencies within the public sector are important to the overall performance of the economy and prosperity of the people,” said Ambassador Wutawunashe.
Senior Government officials were challenged to think outside the box by infusing best practices and innovative solutions to propel and sustain their institutions as engines of accelerated industrialisation, modernisation and sustainable economic growth.
“It is my belief that the skills, insights and perspectives imparted during this leadership training will go a long way in equipping you to be equal to the tasks and enable you to deliver satisfactorily as you meet your goals and targets, and provide solutions and leadership for your teams. The citizenry look up to us for quality service that improves their livelihoods. Failure is not an option. Against all odds we should prevail,” he said.
He said President Mnangagwa has declared the year 2022 as the year of growth, high performance and productivity, as well as sustained success and delivery of high quality service at all levels.
“The onus lies with all of us to ensure this becomes a reality as we each take up our positions to support the heads of our ministries and agencies in pursuit of the goals and targets defined in our strategic plans.
“I place great expectations on the success of this training and I want to remind you that the PSC, which is mandated with public administration, is spearheading this high performance — high ethics work culture and working hard to ensure that all line ministries, departments and agencies implement strategic initiatives that collectively lead, not only to the realisation of Vision 2030, but also to the creation of a fully functional, professional, knowledgeable, results-driven public service. In this regard, skilling and re-skilling of public service members is imperative,” he said.
Ambassador Wutawunashe said leadership demands a resilient, determined and deep sense of personal determination.
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