Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet, Oliver Kalabo, has raised concern over the weakening of the public service system, saying it had contributed to slow service delivery and underscored the need to restore mandatory training and certification.
Kalabo said government was treating the restoration of mandatory public service training and certification as a national priority, describing it as a critical reform for improving efficiency, professionalism and service delivery across the public service.
He said this during the National Institute of Public Administration, NIPA, Stakeholder Engagement and Communication Breakfast in Lusaka on Tuesday.
“The public service was once renowned for its discipline, competence and professionalism because public officers underwent structured induction, foundation training and mentorship before confirmation into service,” Kalabo said.
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NIPA Executive Director, Professor Jacob Malungo, reaffirmed the Institute’s commitment to rebuilding a highly professional public service through stronger partnerships with government, cooperating partners and the media.
“NIPA is determined to deliver on its mandate by developing a Public Service Certification Strategy and a Training Portal that would standardize and enhance training across the public service,” Malungo said.
He said the engagement was intended to provide stakeholders with an honest update on the Institute’s progress, implementation timelines and ongoing reforms, while promoting transparency and strengthening collaboration in advancing public service training and certification.
Malungo also expressed gratitude to the German Agency for International Cooperation, GIZ, through the Good Financial Governance, (GFG), Project, for supporting NIPA with a local subsidy grant.
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