Use public facilities for workshops, Government departments told

Pamela Shumba, Senior Reporter
MINISTRIES and Government departments have been urged to save money by making use of public facilities such as the Zimbabwe Institute of Public Administration and Management (Zipam) training centres when conducting their workshops and seminars.

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Prisca Mupfumira said on Friday that it was important for ministries to lead by example in saving scarce financial resources by making use of cheap venues instead of expensive private facilities.

“Let us make use of Government institutions to save money. When conducting our workshops we have Zipam training centres, hotels and conference centres that we can use instead of private facilities. Zipam facilities are under-utilised and it is not helping us in any way to give our money to other organisations, considering that the Government is facing financial challenges,” said Minister Mupfumira.

She made the remarks while making a presentation during the just ended 16th Zanu-PF national People’s Conference in Masvingo.

The minister told delegates at the conference that Zipam had developed a turnaround strategy that has seen its infrastructure and facilities being improved.

“I am happy to say that Zipam is in the process of sprucing up its infrastructure and equipment to suit the existing standards. We are working hard to bring back the much-desired change to Zipam and restore it to its former glory. I therefore encourage our ministries to support Zipam and save Government money by utilising Zipam facilities,” she said.

Minister Mupfumira added that job rationalisation in the civil service would continue as part of measures to contain a ballooning public sector wage bill gobbling 97 percent of state revenues.

“Since last year we have been going through a rationalisation process. This is an ongoing process that is meant to reduce the Government’s wage bill. The civil servants’ salaries are taking 97 percent of the state revenues.

“Meanwhile, we are looking at ways of improving the productive capacity of the economy. When we raise the productive capacity it enables us to raise the revenue that we need to be supportive of employment costs, service delivery and other Government costs,” said Minister Mupfumira.