Chronicle Editor
Mashudu Netsianda in Victoria Falls
STAKEHOLDERS who attended the 9th edition of Africa Public Service Day continental celebrations in Victoria Falls last week called for an integrated and dynamic public administration system, which hinges on an inclusive and non-discriminatory human development trajectory.
They said colonialism developed a dual economic structure which led to a majority of people in the rural economy being disadvantaged.
The event, which was initially supposed to be officially opened by President Mnangagwa, attracted delegates from 15 countries.
Participants for the event are drawn from Africa Union member states, including organisations active in the sphere of public administration, universities, the private sector, media and non-state actors.
Ministers responsible for Labour/Public Service and Administration attended the official opening on Friday. Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Professor Paul Mavima officiated.
Speaking during a plenary session, Dr Godfrey Kanyenze, a local development economist, said Africa inherited a public administration system with discriminative colonial structures.
“When we are doing our public administration there are people that are specifically left behind. There are women, youths and persons with disabilities who should be included in whatever we are doing,” he said.
“Colonialism developed a unique development structure, a dual economic structure which led to a majority of people in the rural economy being disadvantaged, especially women. If you remember how the developmental economy was created women were literally moved to the informal sector.”
Dr Kanyenze said it was able-bodied men that would move to occupy the jobs in the formal sector.
“It is not by accident that today the formal sector is male-dominated while women and children dominate the rural economy hence poverty in much of Africa still turns a rural and women space as a result of these historical factors, which were deliberately created,” he said.
“There is therefore a need for public administration and development process to create a different trajectory which will radically change the development architecture which will transform the fortunes of our economies in Africa.”
Dr Kanyenze said the public service administration should ensure that the African Continental Free Trade Area is used as a vehicle for creating a human development trajectory to enable a majority of people on the continent to live a better life.
“The scope of developmental public administration should include a partnership between government agencies and the people. We inherited the colonial structures that were meant to serve the elite few driven by a racial ideology,” he said.
Dr Kanyenze said the process of developmental public administration should also be understood using the administration of development and administrative development.
“The administration of development relates to an attempt at maximising use of limited resources and we need to be deliberate on how we use these scarce resources and where to deploy them. The developmental aspect is also critical which looks at the issue of innovation, and the development of human capital,” he said.
“Just like during the liberation struggle we need to mobilise the people for development. The secret about Japan after the Second World War is that it remobilised its people from the war to the economy.”
Dr Kanyenze said Africa needs public administration which is pan Africanist.
Kenya School of Government director-general Professor Ludeki Chweya said there is a need to transform countries in Africa into champions of development.
“We need to transform our countries in Africa into champions of development. Between April and May this year, the National School of Government of South and the Kenya School of Government entered into a partnership to run a course for top-level government officials drawn from the two countries on public administration,” he said.
“The training which was attended by ministers, permanent secretaries, premiers and governors, chief executives of state enterprises, focused on policy which sought to address the issue of developmental public administration.”
Prof Chweya said for Africa to transform, there is a need to promote intra-African trade, industrialisation and production
Mr Steven Isaack who is director of public service innovation and reform in the Office of Prime Minister of Namibia noted Africa is one well-endowed continent, yet it remained underdeveloped.
“It is therefore imperative that we continue to find ways to reverse this state of affairs through home-grown strategies. The issue of implementing our own plans as Africa remains a top priority to ensure a better life for all our citizens in line with our development agenda,” he said.
“It is important that we have our own development agenda and orient our people. As African states, we need to implement our continental policies on governance and public administration. We should be able to mobilise our own resources and modernise the African public service.”
Public Service Day is celebrated annually on June 23 to mark and recognise the role of public servants and public sector organisations and their positive contributions and benefits to the population.
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