‘Intensify modernisation of State institutions’

Sunday Mail Reporter

GOVERNMENT’S devolution and decentralisation drive must be accelerated, while modernisation of State institutions should be intensified to ensure that public services cascade to every corner of the country to improve the livelihoods of people, especially those in previously marginalised rural areas, President Mnangagwa has said.

He was speaking at an event to mark the announcement of the 2023 performance evaluation results and the signing ceremony of the 2024 performance contracts for ministers and heads of public sector agencies at State House on Friday.

President Mnangagwa said there was need to quicken the implementation of rural development programmes to ensure that no place and no one is left behind.

“There is need to accelerate the attainment of Vision 2030 targets,” he said.

“Innovation, industrialisation, entrepreneurship, job creation, modernisation of institutions and systems, rural development, as well as improved livelihoods, among other socio-economic activities, must be scaled up.

“The implementation of the devolution and decentralisation agenda should be strengthened now and going into the future.”

The decentralisation of Government ministries to the sub-national levels, he said, must be enhanced.

“The strategies that have been put in place to strengthen the offices of the Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution should be implemented, more so that devolution is now a measurable variable in the performance contracts for senior public officials.

“In this regard, I urge the Public Service Commission to deploy personnel to our provinces and districts with capacities and skills that reflect this new thrust.

“I expect a quickened pace and greater sense of urgency in the implementation of rural industrialisation strategies.”

The Government, President Mnangagwa said, will continue implementing reforms that optimise maximum performance in the public sector to ensure that the people’s demands and expectations are met.

Public sector performance, he continued, was an integral part of national development as it ensures that no place is left behind.

He said information communication technology (ICT) infrastructure should be leveraged on to provide efficient and effective service, while also calling for the acceleration of the digitisation and modernisation of Government ministries.

“Undoubtedly, a robust information communication technology infrastructure backbone is critical in advancing our multi-pronged Government modernisation agenda,” said the President.

“ICTs must, therefore, be leveraged to improve service delivery and reduce malpractices in our public sector.”

He said public sector procedures and systems must be simplified to enable effective and efficient people-centred service delivery.

“This matter has been on our priority list for too long, and more results must be seen in this regard,” added President Mnangagwa.

“As such, the implementation of the e-Government programme should be strengthened to include skills and infrastructural backbone, among other aspects, to enable optimal harnessing of the opportunities brought about by artificial intelligence and other contemporary best ICT solutions.”

President Mnangagwa also called on local authorities to improve performance by responding to citizens’ concerns.

“With regards to local authorities, the blueprint I launched, titled ‘Call to Action — No Compromise to Service Delivery’ is now the guiding strategy to improved performance in our local authorities.

“The concerns of our citizens must be timely responded to and conclusively addressed.

“In line with the people-centred policies of the Second Republic, and the whole-of-government-and-society approach, the perspectives of ordinary citizens, including the private sector, should be considered during the evaluation of performance contracts.”

This approach, he added, should also incorporate the involvement of a broader spectrum of stakeholders in development planning and participation.