Botswana’s Vice President Ponatshego Kedikilwe has challenged African governments to upgrade delivery of public service through improving interface between politicians and civil servants, so as to achieve sustainable development in the continent.
Addressing delegates at the 10th Forum of Commonwealth Heads of African Public Service, Kedikilwe said the continent is running against time in efforts to achieve sustainable development.
“This continent must leap frog in sustainable development in efforts to improve lives of its people,” said Kedikilwe on Tuesday at the four-day forum.
He called for a healthy interaction relationship between politicians and administrators citing that the move will oil the interface.
“It’s an intricate issue that must be nursed and nurtured. We need to commit to driving home the core values of public service, with continued efforts,” Kedikilwe said.
“The continent needs public administrators that support sustained development,” he added.
Turning his remarks to politicians, Kedikilwe challenged politicians to upheld good values so that administrators could take cue from politicians.
He said the two stakeholders should stop trading insults with politicians blaming public administrators and administrators blaming politicians for failure of implementation.
Kedikilwe said the two camps should forge a way forward for improved service delivery in the continent.
Adding to his sentiment, Commonwealth deputy secretary general Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba a sound public service is crucial to facilitate national development.
“Administrators should give honest advice politicians and do so with integrate,” said Masire-Mwamba.
The on-going forum is being attended by heads of public services from Botswana, Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
The 10th forum of Commonwealth heads of African Public Service comes as a prelude to the Commonwealth heads of government meeting to be held November in Sirilanka.
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