The Public Service and Public Service Commission
Some Basic Principles
As the name implies, the Public Service exists to serve the public. Public servants are
paid by the public and should serve the public impartially and in a professional
manner, irrespective of their own political views or those of the members of the
public with whom they are dealing.
On the other hand, the public service has a duty to put into effect the policies of the
government of the day. It should also do this in a professional manner, bearing in
mind that in a democracy the government may change and the incoming government
may have different policies. The public service should implement the new
government’s policies loyally and not seek to thwart the government.
Current System in Zimbabwe
Appointment of the Public Service Commission
In terms of the Constitution:
• there is a Public Service Commission [PSC] which consists of a chairman and not
less than 2 and not more than 7 other members appointed by the President
• the persons to be appointed to the PSC must be chosen for their ability and
experience in administration or their professional qualifications or their suitability
otherwise for appointment, and the chairman and at least one other member
shall be persons who have held a post or posts of a senior grade in the Public
Service for periods which in the aggregate amount to at least five years.
The appointment of members of the PSC is therefore entirely in the hands of the
President. He is not required to consult anyone about who should be appointed. The
qualifications required for membership are not particularly onerous. The conditions
of service of commissioners are fixed by the President.
The functions of the Public Service Commission
The Constitution states that the functions of the PSC shall be to tender such advice
and do such other things in relation to the Public Service as are provided for by the
Constitution or by or under an Act of Parliament.
The Public Service Act goes into some more detail, stating the functions to be:
• to appoint persons to the Public Service, whether as permanent members or on
contract or otherwise, to assign and promote them to offices, posts and grades in
the Public Service and to fix their conditions of service;
• to appoint persons from approved services to offices, posts and grades in the
Public Service;
• to conduct examinations for candidates for entry to and promotion within the
Public Service;
• to inquire into and deal with complaints made by members of the Public Service;
• subject to Part V, to exercise disciplinary powers in relation to members of the
Public Service;
• to exercise any other functions that may be imposed or conferred upon the
Commission in terms of this Act or any other enactment.
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