PSC to recall retired professionals

Elita Chikwati Herald Reporter
The Public Service Commission intends to re-appoint all retired professionals to fill more than 20 000 vacant posts in different ministries with critical manpower shortages. The professionals would be employed on one-year contracts which are subject to renewal every year with priority being given to those who are willing to work in rural district council areas.
PSC acting secretary Mrs Precious Mudonhi said out of the 9 040 established critical posts in all ministries, except for the Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Ministry, 5 189 posts were vacant.

She said only 3 851 posts were filled leaving a vacancy position of 57,4 percent.
She said the Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Ministry alone had 15 891 vacancies out of the 104 149 established teacher posts.
“The 15 891 posts are currently filled by untrained teachers and these are mainly in rural areas. The call to re-engage retired and qualified teachers is therefore a response to staff shortages in such rural schools,” she said.

Mrs Mudonhi said the Government was committed to offering quality education in all areas including rural schools hence the call for qualified and trained retired teachers.

The PSC would also be employing metallurgists, geologists, geophysicists, mining engineers and surveyors for the Mines and Mining Development Ministry.

Vacant posts for architects, civil, structural, mechanical and electrical engineers, valuation or estates officers, quantity surveyors and artisans have also been noted in the Public Works Ministry.

“Technicians and artisans in various disciplines across the ministries also fall within the critical manpower shortage areas,” she said.
The Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Ministry requires veterinary officers (doctors), topographers, cartographers, veterinary public health officers, agronomists, agricultural extension officers, glossinologists and entomologists.

Civil, structural and mechanical engineers, lake navigation controllers, meteorologists and harbormasters, quantity and inland surveyors and examiner of vessels are required in the Transport, communications and Infrastructural Development ministry.

The ministry of Home Affairs has vacancies for systems engineers, analysts and programmers while hydrologists, hydrogeologists and water engineers are required in the Ministry of Water Resources Development and Management.

She said the conditions of service in terms of salaries and related allowances for the retirees and other qualified re-appointees remained the same as those prevailing in the public service.

“As a general rule, the PSC may appoint a person aged 70 years or less, but serves the right to extend such any appointment beyond the age of 70 if the officer is physically and mentally fit and is a high performer,’’ she said.