By Surihe Gaomas
WINDHOEK
Corruption is still the most challenging factor that hinders efficient and effective service delivery on the African continent.
The Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Libertina Amathila, said this when she opened a two-day Pan African Public Service Day celebration in Windhoek yesterday.
The theme for this year’s commemoration is “Promoting Good Governance with Emphasis on Anti-Corruption and Ethics.”
Addressing close to 200 guests, Amathila said in light of corruption, the challenge for African public service is to renew its look in providing better service delivery to its citizens at all times.
“The challenges for the African public sector…require constant re-thinking and re-focusing with regard to the way we interact with citizens, who have justified expectations for effective and efficient service delivery”.
In light of this, the African public sector is increasingly called upon to be more “dynamic, innovative and dedicated” in order to speed up the implementation of Africa’s developmental goals.
The main objective of the Pan African Public Service Day celebrations is to recognise the importance that public servants play in social transformation and economic freedom.
The day further emphasises the strengthening of good governance, accountability, public sector performance, citizen-focused policy and programmes.
Amathila stressed that this year’s theme aims to recognise the many years of political, social and economic hardship caused by many years of public sector mismanagement and resource squandering.
“(This) often as a result of personal greed and selfishness of some officials in positions of power and trust.”
Speaking at the same occasion, Chairperson of 5th Pan African Ministers Bureau, Geraldine Frazer-Moleketi, said its time for Africa to find its own solutions to current challenges.
“Time has come for the continent to come up with new solutions to the problems it faces today. We must take time to reflect on our own achievements as a continent,” said Fraser-Moleketi.
On Millennium Development Goals or MDG’s, the chairperson said corruption hinders the realisation of these goals hence corruption must be fought the same way the continent is tackling, poverty, unemployment and HIV/AIDS.
A public service should be rooted in professionalism at all times in order to bring better services to the people it serves on daily basis.
African Union Commissioner, Julia Joiner, said the hosting of the annual event shows African states willingness to work together through collective initiatives.