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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 any 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 whose other sections 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’s civil service. Civil servants unions said the move would result in an improvement in the management of the civil service. The responsibility of appointing anyone into the civil service, including relief 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 and would then forward the names of the appointed persons to the commission.
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,” said Mrs Sunguro.
She 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, including 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 measures to ensure effective and efficient performance within, and the general well being of, the civil service.” Mrs Sunguro said that it was also the duty of the CSC to ensure that civil servants carried 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.”
Zimbabwe Teachers Association chief executive Mr Sifiso Ndlovu said the barring of heads of ministries from making any appointments was in the right direction.
“This is a welcome development and we feel that in the alignment of the Public Service Act and regulations with new Constitution we should also be consulted,” he said.
“There are issues to do with labour rights and we feel our input is necessary as we might have some sections aligned in a way that makes it difficult for us to participate in effective collective bargaining.”
College Lecturers Association of Zimbabwe president Mr David Dzatsunga said the move was welcome, considering the alleged corruption that had been taking place in various Government ministries on recruitments.
“We were not happy with the delegation of appointment duties to heads of ministries because some people who were not fit to hold certain posts found themselves in those positions simply because the appointment would have been done unprocedurally,” he said.
“It is our hope now that things will improve with the coming of this new system.”
Online Reporter