The Sunday Mail
Lincoln Towindo —
Malaysian experts will be in Zimbabwe this November to help Government create a highly efficient civil service that meets the demands of an expanding population. Cabinet has already approved the partnership that will see Zimbabwe adopt the world-renowned Blue Ocean Strategy, which streamlines organisational structures and refines service delivery.
Malaysia has implemented the strategy and boasts of having one of the world’s most efficient and innovative civil services. The Asian giant offered to help model Zimbabwe’s civil service along similar lines when it hosted the 2016 International Conference on Blue Ocean Strategy and Public Service Delivery Transformation.
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Prisca Mupfumira told The Sunday Mail, “We tabled our proposals to Cabinet following (our visit to Malaysia for the conference), and I can tell you that they were adopted. We now await implementation, but you have to set up an appointment with the Chief Secretary (to the President and Cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda) for further details.”
In a brief interview with this paper, Dr Sibanda said, “Yes, we expect (the experts) in the country around (November) when we shall start the process. We shall be inviting you when we have the exact details and when they are in the country.”
The Blue Ocean Strategy has several high-impact strategies aimed at delivering low-cost and rapidly executed programmes and services. It also involves setting up countrywide urban transformation centres that integrate Government services in one building. Kenya has 40 such centres, while Thailand is working on a similar matrix.
Malaysia is implementing more than 90 high-impact national projects using the Blue Ocean Strategy, and is projected to evolve into a high-income economy by 2020.
In Zimbabwe, Government is rationalising its workforce to cut the wage bill and improve efficiency. The reforms were recommended by a sector-wide audit conducted in 2015.
