Commission cites flaws in civil service
By CHIKUMBI KATEBE THE Public Service Commission has observed that there are serious problems in human resource management of the civil service.
This was brought to light when the Commission led by the chairperson Dickson Chasaya yesterday conducted a guided tour of the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) and there after addressed some employees at the institution.
One of the Commissioners, Misheck Nyambose in his address to the workers said he was concerned at the number of problems brought to their attention as a result of poor human resources management in public institutions.
He said most problems experienced in the civil service were as a result of poor management or mishandling of employee issues by the human resource personnel.
Nyambose said most of these issues were supposed to be addressed by both the departments and institutional management.
“What we have come to realise is that most cases presented to the Commission are as a result of poor management by the human resource personnel in almost all the places we have toured.
He said workers at the largest health institution in the county had expressed various challenges in their line of work including delayed emoluments and lack of promotions in instances of long service.
Some health workers complained that there was no motivation from their superiors as they had served in acting positions for up to 8 -10 years yet in some cases they had even seen other people brought in to take up vacant positions.
Even the Resident Doctors Association of Zambia (RDA) UTH branch complained of a three months delay period before their members were included on the payroll, yet they were considered as medical officers.
Other workers complained about the National Pensions Scheme Authority (NAPSA) procedures, especially those not immediately admitted to the payroll upon being employed.
And UTH senior medical superintendent Clarence Chiluba explained that with over 3,600 employees, the hospital was a good place workers acquire specialised skills in their respective fields.
Dr Chiluba said specialisation had helped raise the health sector profile in Zambia with people from as far as Eretria coming to Zambia for cancer treatment.
“Our medical tourism is the most successful with the Cancer Diseases Hospital getting patients from as far as Eritrea because of our state-of-the-art equipment in treatment of cancer.
“Yes, we need motivation as civil servants, we are the flag carriers of the Government and as long as we are here, we should focus on helping the nation remain healthy and productive.
“The work culture is changing. We want to give the best, and we are doing that as a hospital,” Dr Chiluba said.