23 Jul 2013

Healthy interface between political leadership and administration is crucial to achieve sustainable development. Vice President, Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe said at the opening of a week-long 10th Forum of Commonwealth Heads of African Public Service under the theme: Improving the Political-Administrative Interface to achieve Sustainable Development in Gaborone on July 23.

Dr Kedikilwe said in the absence of the interface between the political and administrative spheres of government, service delivery could be hampered if poorly managed. He said an admirable administration was one that was committed to the transformation of the service into an enviable and modern institution capable of supporting the political leadership in its efforts to fast track the country’s development.

Dr Kedikilwe stressed that “we need to commit to driving home the core values of civil service to be an apolitical entity that remains unchanged regardless of the government in power.”

“In most cases, the result is high turnover of senior administrative personnel, who take with them invaluable skills needed in public service. This loss of rare skills and pivotal institutional memory further constrains the ability of the public service to deliver,” he said.

Commenting on the theme, Dr Kedikilwe said over the past nine years, the forum had discussed issues relating to the establishment of the right public service which was responsive, citizen-focused, value-based and ethical.

The Vice President also highlighted the importance of efficient government machinery adding that “countries want slimmer, more efficient and fit-for-purpose organisations devoid of overlaps, duplications and more open to provide quality management, direction and guidance.

Attaining this interface, he stressed, is a function of healthy political-administrative interface. “The interface between the political and administrative spheres of government can hamper service delivery if poorly managed,” Dr Kedikilwe noted.

Meanwhile, the Commonwealth Deputy Secretary General, Mrs Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba also highlighted that a strong public service was crucial to facilitating achievement of national development goals.

She said the theme for this year’s forum was important particularly now as the world was awakening to Africa’s potential for economic prosperity. “We need to demonstrate we are doing our part to realise this potential and are committed to moving our countries from poverty to prosperity,” she said.

Mrs Masire-Mwamba said development was a political process that requires good politics, an effective public service and a robust civil society that work in synergy to support the national development agenda. She said for sustainable development to be achieved in Africa, politicians, public sector leaders and leaders from other sectors have to work in collaboration for the common good.

Many African countries, she said,  have been experiencing challenges in reducing poverty, improving healthcare and achieving many other development priorities not only because of limited resources, but sometimes because of inadequate collaboration between politicians and public servants in ensuring that national development priorities are achieved.

She further noted that good governance was emerging as a strong success factor, hence should underpin political-administrative interface so that politicians and senior servants collaborate for the right reasons to facilitate development that will benefit citizens rather than to collaborate in pursuit of self-interests.

The forum has brought together heads of public services from Botswana, Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Lesotho to share ideas, agree on strategies and mechanisms that will facilitate achievement of sustainable development goals in their respective countries. ENDS