Govt committed to a professional civil service

———- Government says it will continue to ensure that professionalism, accountability, Integrity and loyalty continues to be upheld among all civil servants in the country.

Luapula Province Deputy Permanent Joyce Nsamba says upholding the virtues that govern the public service is cardinal for improved service delivery to the people of Zambia.

Mrs Nsamba says to ensure that this is reality there is need for public service workers to observe and adhere to the virtues of the public service in their execution of duties.

ZANIS reports that the Deputy Permanent Secretary said this in a speech read for her by Luapula Province Assistant Secretary Joshua Kamanya at Kaole stadium in Mansa today during the celebrations to mark this year’s Africa Public Service day.

Mrs Nsamba observed that the public service has over the years recorded significant improvements noting that in the area of gender more women have been employed and further more have been appointed to head ministries and provinces.

She pointed out that out of 20 ministries and 10 provinces 15 are headed by female permanent secretaries representing a 50 percent the number of women that hold the positions.

She said in the health sector significant improvements have been recorded as has been seen by the increase in the number of health institutions that are managed by qualified and competent medical personnel.

And earlier Mansa District Zambia Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) Chairperson Chiluba Kombe commended government for putting in place a number of interventions aimed at improving service delivery among public service workers.

He cited road projects that the government has embarked on as one that will help improve delivery among public service workers.

Mr Kombe however expressed disappointment by the low turn up of public service workers at the celebrations .

Zambia today joined the rest of Africa in commemorating the Africa Public Service Day under the theme “celebrating 50 years of God’s favor: A public service anchored on continuous improvement in service delivery for sustainable development and well being of the people of Zambia”.