Harare, (New Ziana) –Southern Africa Development Committee (SADC) countries have been commended for creating a forum to engage on issues that affect workers, including those in the public service.
Zimbabwe’s acting Public Service Commission (PSC) chairperson Dr Nomathemba Ndiweni said this at the official opening of a meeting on the benchmarking visit by the Parliamentary Service Board of Parliament of the Kingdom of Eswatini on Wednesday.
Representatives of the Public Service Commissions of countries that include Lesotho, Eswatini, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Seychelles, Mauritius and Tanzania on 14 May last year converged in Cape Town, South Africa, to form the SADC Public Service Commissions Forum.
“It is with great pride that I take this moment to acknowledge the formation of the SADC Public Service Commissions Forum. This Forum represents more than an institutional milestone, it is a generational achievement rooted in a shared vision for regional transformation,” said Dr Ndiweni.
“The forum offers a vital platform for contextualised collaboration, structured dialogue, and the systematic exchange of knowledge across our sister nations. Significantly, the formation of the Forum is now being followed by ongoing efforts to integrate it into the formal structures of SADC. Through this Forum, we commit ourselves to translating solidarity into strategy, and heritage into innovation,” she added.
She said the benchmarking visit integration by officials from Eswatini was key to providing the SADC PSCs Forum with the necessary impetus and institutional traction to influence the trajectory of public service reform, ultimately enhancing service delivery to African citizens across the continent.
“As nations committed to strengthening democratic institutions and ensuring effective Parliamentary service delivery, such exchanges foster mutual learning, promote best practices, and deepen our shared commitment to good governance.
“The Zimbabwean PSC’s operations are structured to promote efficiency and accountability. We operate through specialised departments dedicated to human resources development and management, strategic policy formulation, investments, training and development, and service delivery,” she added.
Over the years, Zimbabwe has managed to establish clear standards and procedures for staff recruitment, performance management, payroll and pension management and training, which are designed to enhance the capacity of Parliamentary staff to support the legislature effectively.
The PSC has also been open to exploring areas of collaboration, including joint training programs, staff exchanges, and the development of shared resources, to build capacity and foster a vibrant public service and parliamentary services.
Dr Ndiweni commended Eswatini for choosing to benchmark with Zimbabwe as well, having recently done the same with Ghana and Uganda.
“Your decision to benchmark with the PSC of Zimbabwe is both commendable and timely, as it resonates with our shared commitment to institutional renewal through mutual learning, reflective dialogue, and collaborative growth. Zimbabwe and Eswatini share a legislative heritage shaped by common historical experiences, the legacies of which continue to influence the architecture of our institutions,” she said.
The exchange will present a valuable opportunity for Commissions of both countries to rethink, reshape, and re-anchor their institutional mandates in ways that affirm African agency, strengthen capacity, and foster lasting partnerships grounded in mutual respect and a shared continental vision.
Dr Ndiweni expressed confidence that the visit by the Eswatini delegation will be mutually beneficial and serve as a catalyst for strengthened bilateral relationships.
The Eswatini Civil Service Commission (CSC) is responsible for recruitment, induction, transfer, promotion and discipline of human capital under the public service and its operations are guided by the Constitution of 2005, the CSC General Regulations of 1963 and the Public Service Act of 2018, among others.
Jabulani Mabuza, the Eswatini Speaker of Parliament said the CSC prioritizes improving service delivery through the recruitment of fit for purpose civil servants across Government.
“It is against this backdrop that the Commission has recently developed a comprehensive Strategic Plan and is currently in the implementation phase, wherein it seeks to position the Eswatini public service workforce to meet the demands and expectations of the country and citizens.
“This will be better achieved through adopting a whole of Government approach whereby the Commission is well capacitated and independent and where collaborative effort by all parties will be key for attaining improved service delivery and national priorities,” he said.
The purpose of the benchmarking visit was for officials to learn and understand how the Zimbabwean PSC relates with other constitutional bodies, sector service commissions and general Ministries and departments regarding recruitments, promotions, transfers, deployments, secondments, performance management, supervision and discipline as well as delegation of powers.
New Ziana
