Harare Post Reporters
In a resounding call for greater dedication and efficiency, the Bulawayo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, Honourable Judith Ncube, has urged civil servants in the Province to elevate their performance and actively contribute towards the realisation of President Emmerson Mnangagwa's ambitious Vision 2030.
This call to action came during an address at a Provincial Development Committee (PDC) meeting held at Mhlahlandlela Government Complex in Bulawayo yesterday.
Minister Ncube minced no words as she castigated lackadaisical civil servants, demanding a shift towards servant leadership within the public sector.
Expressing her dismay, she revealed instances where Government workers turned away citizens seeking essential services without justifiable reasons.
"It's disheartening to learn that some civil servants are turning away people seeking Government services for unjustified reasons," Minister Ncube declared.
The Minister underscored the need for every worker to contribute their best efforts, emphasising that President Mnangagwa had already set the trajectory for the country's transformation into an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
Narrating her first-hand experiences, Minister Ncube recounted her experience of neglect by Government workers during her visit to various offices.
"You knock and knock at the offices and get no response, yet the workers will be inside. You then move in only to find someone busy reading a newspaper, and they don’t bother attending to you," she lamented.
Minister Ncube passionately argued that such negative attitudes must change, reminding civil servants that their primary duty is to serve the public.
Expressing her concern about the rising cholera cases in Bulawayo, Minister Ncube stressed the urgent need for comprehensive measures to curb the spread of the disease.
With fears that cholera could escalate amid a persistent water crisis in the city, she emphasised the gravity of the situation, recalling the tragic 2020 diarrhoea outbreak that claimed at least 13 lives during a severe water shortage.
To ensure alignment with the devolution agenda, Minister Ncube directed all Provincial Heads of Government departments to submit project reports to Provincial Affairs and Devolution Permanent Secretary, Mr Paul Nyoni.
However, she expressed disappointment over reports that some civil servants were resisting the decentralisation policy, stressing that all departments should diligently report to provincial authorities.
"As leaders in our various ministries, departments, and agencies, you have an impact on how the general citizenry views the Government," Minister Ncube stated, rallying the province to play a pivotal role in realising President Mnangagwa's vision.
The PDC meeting delved into a spectrum of critical issues affecting the residents of Bulawayo, emphasising the need for concerted efforts to address these concerns and pave the way for significant improvements this year.
