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THE Civil Service Commission has barred Government heads of ministries from making any appointments in the civil service warning that anyone who authorises recruitment will meet the employment costs of the appointed person. The move, according to the CSC, is in line with the provisions of the new Constitution which came into effect after the inauguration of President Mugabe last week.
The CSC, previously known as the Public Service Commission under the Lancaster House Constitution, is responsible for the administration of the country.
The responsibility of appointing anyone into the civil service, including temporary teachers in the education sector, now lies solely with the CSC.
In the past, the PSC would delegate heads of ministries to make appointments on its behalf. The heads of ministries would then forward the names of the appointed persons to the PSC.
CSC secretary Mrs Pretty Sunguro yesterday said the Commission, in exercising its functions, would be guided by the new Constitution.
“In compliance with these provisions, the Civil Service Commission thereby withdraws and cancels all its circulars and general letters that delegated the power to appoint members of the civil service to heads of ministries,” she said.
“Henceforth, appointment of any member of the Civil Service will be the sole mandate of the Civil Service Commission. Thereof any appointment made by any head of ministry or any other member than the Civil Service Commission shall be null and void. Any member who authorises such an appointment shall be personally liable for the employment costs of such appointments.”
Mrs Sunguro said according to Section 203 of the new Constitution, the functions of the CSC were “to appoint qualified and competent persons to hold posts in the civil service.”
She said while an Act of Parliament would allow the CSC to delegate its functions, it was impossible to delegate the power to make appointments.
“Be therefore advised that in terms of Section 321 (2) of the same Constitution, an Act of Parliament may permit the Commission to delegate its functions but the Commission must not delegate its power to make appointments to, or to make recommendations or give advice on, any office established by the Constitution,” she said.
Mrs Sunguro said the CSC would, subject to section 65 (5) of the new Constitution, be responsible for fixing and regulating conditions of service of members of the civil service.
These include salaries, allowances and other benefits.
“It has the functions to exercise control and disciplinary powers over members of the civil service, to investigate grievances and to remedy the grievances of members of the civil service concerning official acts or omissions,” she said.
“It is also the CSC’s function to implement measure to ensure effective and efficient performance within, and the general well being of, the civil service.”
Mrs Sunguro added that it was also the duty of the CSC to ensure that civil servants carry out their duties “efficiently and impartially”.
“Other functions include advising the President and the Minister (responsible for civil service) on any matter relating to the civil service and to promote throughout the civil service, the values and principles set out in this constitution; and to exercise any other function that is conferred or imposed on the Commission by the Constitution or an Act of Parliament.”
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