PURGE OF EXPERIENCED STAFF LEAVES GOVERNMENT FUMBLING – MPOMBO

PURGE OF EXPERIENCED STAFF LEAVES GOVERNMENT FUMBLING – MPOMBO
By GIDEON NYENDWA
THE extensive purge of experienced professionals, in the public service is responsible for service failures in many areas veteran politician George Mpombo has said.

Dr. Mpombo said that replacing almost all critical positions of permanent and deputy permanent secretaries was a misdirection that would continue to hinder the smooth running of government.

There was a reason, he said. That past regimes retained experienced and knowledgeable civil servants to maintain efficient service delivery and inspire new ones.

“You can’t replace vital experience with cadres and expect the government to function properly,” he said.

Dr. Mpombo said that he understood the pressure to appoint supporters who fought for the party to reach where it was but that it was folly to field inexperienced and unqualified political cadres in positions that required experienced people.

He said a fully-fledged office of the Secretary to the Cabinet was a vital component in the smooth and proper functioning of government machinery and was supposed to be maintained so that proper guidance could be given to the new ministers on how governments operated.

Dr. Mpombo said that it was unfortunate that close to six months after being ushered into office, the country still did not have substantive office bearer.

He said that was the reason why some disastrous decisions like single sourcing of public private partnership (PPP) involving a South African de-registered nongovernmental organisation were being made.
Dr. Mpombo said the right decision was for matters to be discussed by a full cabinet meeting accompanied by a well circulated cabinet memorandum.
He said no ministry or anybody like the PPP advisory council had authority to mortgage almost half the country to a dubious transaction.
Dr. Mpombo also said that the PPP advisory should be backed by an Act of Parliament so that parliament can interrogate their decisions on behalf of Zambians.