In a first for public administration in the country,
Cabinet has approved values and principles of a framework that will see public
servants declare assets to ensure accountability.
Additionally, a code of conduct will be adopted in the
civil service, while Government workers will have to observe political
neutrality in terms of the Constitution.
These reforms are part of a raft of measures by President
Mnangagwa’s administration, with the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP)
recognising that the civil service reform agenda will ensure that operations of ministries, and their departments and
agencies are underpinned by a new culture blueprint that exhibits higher levels
of professionalism, ethics, accountability and performance.
Under the TSP, reforms at public enterprises are set to
ensure, inter alia, de-politicisation of Government and entities’ governance
relationships.
And yesterday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting
Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa, in her post-Cabinet briefing, announced
that Cabinet had also approved principles for the Public Service Amendment Act
which seeks, among other issues, to align conditions of service for civil
service Commissioners to the Constitution.
The amendments also seek to change the name of the Public
Service Commission to the Civil Service Commission; provide that staff of the
Civil Service Commission will follow processes through the National Joint
Negotiating Forum (NJNC) before engaging in collective job action; provide
mechanisms for the implementation of collective bargaining rights and provide
for the political neutrality of the civil service.
Meanwhile, Cabinet yesterday expressed concern over the
tendency by some businesses to increase wantonly prices of commodities citing
movements in the exchange rate.
The correct approach, Cabinet pointed out, was to predicate
price increases on inflation trends.
Said Minister Mutsvangwa: “A lot of our industry suppliers
of goods and services in the country are raising prices because of the exchange
rate on the market which is not the right way to do it. The correct approach is
to ground price increases on inflation trends not the exchange rate.”
This comes as Cabinet also approved principles for the
Securities and Exchange Amendment Bill which seeks to address deficiencies and
align the legislation with market developments and international best practice.
The proposed amendments seeks to assist investors in making
decisions after being provided with full, accurate and timely disclosure of
financial results, risk and other related information.
“The amendments are also aimed at ensuring fair and
equitable treatment of holders of securities and that financial statements be
in line with international accounting standards,” Minister Mutsvangwa said.
“(They are also aimed at) expanding the scope of regulation
of capital markets to cover issuers of securities; eliminating regulatory
arbitrage in the capital markets sector; introducing civil penalties for
contravention of the Act to enhance the Securities and Exchange Commission
SECZ) powers in markets; and providing for cooperation and sharing of
information with both local and foreign regulators.” Herald
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