Online Reporter
Takunda Gambiza and Sekai Manyere
THE Public Service Commission has encouraged its staff to embrace digital transformation, strengthen accountability and adopt innovative approaches to improve service delivery.
Speaking at the 2026 Mid-Term Performance Review Programme in Harare on Thursday, PSC Chairperson Dr Vincent Hungwe said the review provided a critical opportunity for the Commission to assess its progress, identify gaps and realign its priorities with the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and Vision 2030.
He said the workshop was more than a routine assessment, describing it as a decisive inflection point for the Commission.
“We must interrogate our trajectory with honesty, recalibrate with agency, and recommit with unwavering determination to the course that we have set for ourselves,” said Dr Hungwe.
He said the rapid pace of technological change required public institutions to move beyond incremental improvements and embrace bold, responsive and strategic leadership.
“In such an environment, incremental adjustments will not suffice. We are called upon to exercise strategic leadership that is bold, responsive and, above all, resolute,” he said.
Dr Hungwe applauded PSC employees for their dedication, saying their work was central to building a capable, professional and responsive public service that supports Zimbabwe’s socio-economic transformation.
He challenged officials to honestly assess whether programmes were producing tangible results and contributing to national development.
“Our objective is to improve, not to assign blame. The value of this exercise lies in identifying opportunities for better performance and stronger institutional delivery,” he said.
Dr Hungwe stressed that professionalism, meritocracy, integrity and accountability must remain the foundation of the Commission’s operations, adding that citizens expected efficient, transparent and responsive public services.
He also called for continued investment in human capital and digital systems to improve efficiency.
“We are operating in an environment that is changing rapidly. Technology is transforming the way governments operate.
“Citizens increasingly expect services that are efficient, transparent and accessible,” he said. “Our greatest asset is neither our infrastructure nor our policies. It is our human capital,” said Dr Hungwe.
“A motivated, ethical and competent workforce remains the foundation upon which institutional excellence is built.”
PSC Secretary Mrs Sibusisiwe Zembe said the mid-term review provided an opportunity to evaluate progress made during the first half of the year while identifying practical interventions for the remainder of 2026.
She said the Commission had recorded notable progress despite facing challenges that had tested its resilience and adaptability.
“The first half of the year has presented a combination of opportunities and challenges.
“While we have made notable progress, we have also encountered obstacles that have tested our resilience and adaptability,” she said.
Mrs Zembe described performance reviews as an essential management tool that strengthens accountability, improves decision-making and enhances service delivery.
She reminded participants that the Commission exists to serve citizens and should remain focused on that mandate.
“We must never forget that our being here in this room and in our various departments is for the purpose of service delivery to the citizens whom we serve,” she said.
She urged participants to engage openly during the review process and focus on finding practical solutions rather than assigning blame.
“The recommendations and resolutions that will emerge from this workshop should translate into concrete actions that improve efficiency, strengthen accountability and enhance the quality of public service,” said Mrs Zembe.
