PSC rolls out capacity-building programme for civil servants

Source: PSC rolls out capacity-building programme for civil servants – herald

Ryan Sibanda-Bulawayo Bureau

THE Public Service Commission has rolled out a nationwide capacity-building programme for civil servants, with officials from Matabeleland North among the first beneficiaries of a five-day seminar that began in Bulawayo yesterday.

The programme is part of the Government’s ongoing public service reforms aimed at improving efficiency, professionalism and service delivery in line with the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which identifies a modern, competent and digitally-enabled public service as a key driver of Vision 2030.

Officially opening the seminar, PSC secretary Mrs Sibusisiwe Zembe, whose speech was read on her behalf by the commission’s general manager for provincial coordination, Mr Lender Richard Dube, said the initiative seeks to equip public servants with critical knowledge on pension reforms, payroll systems, retirement planning and human resources management.

Mrs Zembe said the programme seeks to bridge knowledge gaps on pension administration, while strengthening institutional capacity across Government.

She noted that incomplete pension applications continue to place unnecessary pressure on pensions, payroll and human resources departments, resulting in delays that can be avoided through improved understanding of procedures.

The outreach programme will also enable the PSC to obtain direct feedback from civil servants to improve existing systems, enhance service delivery and restore confidence in pension administration.

Presentations during the seminar cover talent management and training, the Government Integrated Management and Payroll System (GovPay IMPPS), pension administration and occupational safety and health.

On talent management, experts from the PSC’s human capital development and management department are conducting sessions aimed at preparing civil servants for retirement, career progression and effective workforce planning.

The training is also equipping human resources officers with skills to manage recruitment processes and guide employees through retirement.

Mr Christopher Ndiweni, a human resources officer in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, said the training had enhanced participants’ understanding of merit-based recruitment.

“We learnt that merit should always be the deciding factor when recruiting staff and how the grading system supports fairness and transparency during interviews,” he said.

Officials from the Salary Service Bureau are also demonstrating how the GovPay Integrated Management and Payroll System (GovPay IMPPS) streamlines payroll administration and pension processing.

The digital platform automatically calculates retirement benefit entitlements and facilitates timely monthly pension payments, reducing manual processes while improving transparency, accountability and efficiency.

Participants are also receiving training on occupational safety and health, with facilitators emphasising every employee’s right to a safe and healthy working environment.

The seminar, which ends on Friday, is expected to strengthen the capacity of civil servants while contributing to ongoing public sector transformation under the Second Republic.