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Wallace Ruzvidzo

Herald Reporter

DEPUTY Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife John Paradza and Public Service Commission (PSC) Commissioner Mr Larry Mavima, who took oath of office before President Mnangagwa at State House in Harare yesterday, have pledged to put shoulder to the wheel for the speedy attainment of Vision 2030.

During the swearing-in ceremony witnessed by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and Vice President Kembo Mohadi, as well as Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Martin Rushwaya and Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, Deputy Minister Paradza and Commissioner Mavima said they are ready to serve the people of Zimbabwe.

In an interview after taking his oath of office, Deputy Minister Paradza said he is up to the task, pursuant to the attainment of Zimbabwe’s national vision to become an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.

The Deputy Minister commended President Mnangagwa for recognising and appointing youths to strategic positions.

“The vision has already been put in motion by the President, that is Vision 2030, so my appointment means I have been sent by President Mnangagwa to ensure that the vision is realised.

The President, flanked by Vice Presidents Chiwenga (left) and Mohadi, swears in Mr Lawrence Mavima as a commissioner of the Public Service Commission yesterday

“This is a new ministry and task, so I am looking forward to positively contributing to Government. The appointment of youths is very good for us because it gives us hope, knowing that the current leadership recognises that the younger generation is very important and special to national development. We are the generation that will lead the country in the future, as President Mnangagwa aptly puts it, we are the future leadership,” he said.

On his part, Mr Mavima said he would tap into his vast experience acquired in both the public and private sectors, to improve efficiency in the public service and ultimately see through the attainment of Vision 2030.

“I can use my vast experience not only from the private sector but from the public sector to get our civil service working efficiently so that we can deliver what the Government and party have promised the people of Zimbabwe,” he said.

“The public sector is the largest employer in the country, and we need to make sure that our people are well equipped and well trained so that we are able as a country to use the resources that are available to us and use them more effectively and efficiently.

“I think at the moment there are a lot of plans that are on board and people need to have the right attitude to work and get results. These results are not going to come in a single day, our President is a typical example of someone who is working hard even under difficult circumstances so if we all copy the way he works this country will leapfrog from where we are to 2030 in a much shorter period of time.”

Mr Mavima added that the PSC is seized with improving conditions of service for its workforce.

“Employees that are not happy will not deliver, they may pretend to deliver. We need to realise and understand the needs of our people in relation to what they are getting. The conditions of service are something that we are constantly looking at, we are currently looking at the conditions of service for our people in various grades and disciplines,” he said.

“We want to retain the skills that we have given them as a country, we do not want to train people and educate them then they leave the country, so conditions of service are indeed important and the commission is seized with that particular issue.”