Online Reporter
Johnsias Mutonhori, [email protected]
THE Public Service Commission (PSC) has extended its nationwide capacity-building campaign to Midlands Province, equipping civil servants with knowledge on retirement planning, pension administration and payroll systems as part of Government’s public service modernisation programme.
The awareness campaign seeks to improve retirement preparedness, strengthen governance and enhance service delivery in line with the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).
Officially opening the programme in Gweru on Wednesday, PSC secretary Mrs Sibusisiwe Zembe, represented by Shurugwi district co-ordinator Mr Effort Tavenhave, said the initiative seeks to bridge information gaps that continue to affect retirement planning among civil servants.
Mrs Zembe said the programme is guided by the Constitution, which mandates the PSC to promote an efficient, effective and accountable public service.
“An empowered nation is an informed nation. When citizens have access to clear, credible and timely information, they are better able to participate, hold institutions accountable and shape their own development outcomes,” she said.
Mrs Zembe said access to reliable information is fundamental to good governance and effective public administration.
She noted that many civil servants still lacked adequate knowledge of pension regulations and retirement benefits, resulting in incomplete applications that place unnecessary pressure on pension, payroll and human resources departments.
“The responsibility of planning for retirement now rests squarely on civil servants, yet significant knowledge gaps remain regarding pension rules and benefits. This campaign seeks to bridge that gap by ensuring employees fully understand their entitlements and can retire with confidence, dignity and financial security,” said Mrs Zembe.
She described the awareness programme as “the vital maintenance work needed to strengthen the bridge between employment and retirement.”
The campaign brings together experts from the PSC’s human resources management, human capital development, Salary Service Bureau, Pensions Department and retirement planning units to provide practical guidance on issues affecting public servants.
Representatives from the Public Service Medical Aid Society (PSMAS) and the National Social Security Authority (Nssa) are also participating, providing information on healthcare services, occupational safety, pension benefits and workers’ compensation.
Mrs Zembe said participants are receiving training on payroll processes, pension applications, retirement planning, career transition programmes and the GovPay Integrated Personnel and Payroll Management System (GovPay IMPPS), which is expected to improve pension calculations and streamline administrative processes.
“By tackling the bottlenecks in our pension and payroll systems, we are directly fulfilling NDS2’s promise to enhance service delivery and protect vulnerable groups, particularly retirees,” she said.
Mrs Zembe added that GovPay is central to Government’s digital transformation agenda and will improve accountability, efficiency and transparency in public administration.
“A key driver of this effort is the GovPay project, which champions NDS2’s focus on digital transformation by introducing a modern platform designed to streamline administrative processes and reinforce accountability,” she said.
Beyond training, the campaign is also collecting feedback from civil servants on challenges affecting pension, payroll and human resources systems to help refine policies and improve service delivery.
“The PSC is here to listen. By gathering your feedback, we can identify on-the-ground challenges and refine systems to better serve our clients. This two-way engagement is vital for rebuilding trust and aligning our services with the needs of all Zimbabweans,” said Mrs Zembe.
She urged participants to engage fully with technical teams to ensure the reforms achieve their intended objectives.
“Together, we can build a public administration anchored in accountability, care and excellence. The lessons learned from this campaign will directly shape long-term reforms and help drive sustainable development for all Zimbabweans,” said Mrs Zembe.
The nationwide capacity-building programme dovetails with the Second Republic’s public sector reform agenda under NDS2, which prioritises digital transformation, human capital development and improved service delivery.
Government is modernising payroll, pension and human resources systems to build a professional, efficient and citizen-centred public service while advancing Vision 2030.
