PSC reassures civil servants on transport

Ivan Zhakata–Herald Correspondent

THE Public Service Commission remains committed to providing convenient, affordable and reliable bus transport to all civil servants as part of its non-monetary benefits extended to its workers.

Secretary for PSC’s service commissions Dr Tsitsi Choruma reaffirmed their commitment and said this would ensure that civil servants report for duty and offer services for the benefit of all citizens.

Dr Choruma said the PSC was mindful of the need to increase its fleet of buses in order to cater fully for civil servants with its own buses and reduce the need to hire buses from companies.

She said although the Commission’s fleet was increasing, it continued to augment its fleet by hiring shuttle buses from other bus operators.

“Following a decrease in the impact of Covid-19 where Public Service Commission had entered into agreements with parastatals and other State-owned entities in order to assist them with transport for their staff specifically during the pandemic lockdown periods, and the subsequent increase of its civil servants back at work, high passenger volumes have out stretched the capacity of the existing fleet,” Dr Choruma said.

“To manage this, the Commission increased the number of hired shuttle buses that augment its own fleet. There is a need for the Public Service Commission to be prudent in its quest to provide transportation and to retain value in this endeavour.

“As such, all parastatals and other State-owned entities are regrettably urged to find alternative arrangements for their employees as the Public Service Commission strives to provide the bus services within the available budgeted resources and also to avoid incurring huge financial liabilities.”

Dr Choruma said the Public Service Commission was open to entering into financial partnerships with organisations willing to carry the full cost for extending services to their employees who are not mainstream civil servants.

“Government remains committed to ensuring the well-being of all civil servants through among other things complementing monetary with non-monetary benefits, of which subsidised and convenient bus transportation ranks quite highly as one of the most critical incentives,” she said.