Harare (New Ziana)) -The Public Service Commission (PSC) has warned civil servants they risk losing their jobs when they actively participate in political party activities.

In a recent circular to all heads of government Ministries ahead of the forthcoming August elections, PSC secretary Dr Tsitsi Choruma said participation of civil servants in political activities was guided by Section 200 (3) and (4) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No 20) Act of 2013.

The section forbids civil servants from acting in a partisan manner, furthering the interests of any political party or cause and prejudicing the lawful interests of any political party or cause in the exercise of their functions.

It also forbids civil servants from violating the fundamental rights or freedoms of any person and becoming office bearers of any political party.

The section goes on to explain the procedure for civil servants that intend to stand as parliamentary and local government candidates in the elections.

“A member of the Public Service who wishes to become a candidate for elections to a local authority or has been nominated as a candidate by a political party, political organisation or political movement or declares himself/herself as a candidate for elections to Parliament or local authority shall submit, in writing a letter notifying the commission of his/her intentions. The member shall be deemed to have resigned from the Public Service with effect from the date that the authority is granted for those seeking election to a local authority.

“A member of the Public Service who wishes to seek election to Parliament shall be deemed to have resigned from the Public Service with effect from the date of acceptance of his nomination by the Nomination Court.”

The circular says a member who submits his/her candidature to a duly constituted Nomination Court and is accepted as a candidate for election to Parliament or local authority with or without satisfying the procedure as set out by the PSC shall be deemed to have resigned or retired from the public service with immediate effect.

Those that cease to be members of the Public Service in pursuit of political office but fail to secure election into Parliament or local authority or abandon their candidature can apply to the commission for reappointment within 30 days after the holding of the elections, provided they would not have filed any application to have the elections results reviewed by a court of law. Those that file court challenges to the results can only apply for reappointment after finalization of their petitions by the court.

“Former members who have lost in elections may be reappointed provided a suitable post exists and subject to such terms and conditions as the commission may fix or an office or posts in the public service,” reads the circular that the PSC indicated cancels and replaces all previous circulars dealing with participation of its members in harmonised elections.

The circular directs all heads of Ministries to ensure and provide proof that all civil servants had sight of the circular by Tuesday, May 30.

New Ziana