Civil servants call for depoliticization, merit-based promotions in Zambia’s civil service

The Civil Servants and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (CSAWUZ) has called for the depoliticisation of the civil service.

Union president, Joy Beene, said there was need for fair promotions based on merit rather than politics.

Speaking at the Union’s third Copperbelt provincial conference in Kitwe, Beene criticised the tendency to favor politicians and their associates for promotions.

He stressed that promotions should not be influenced by tribal grounds, nepotism, or sexual favors.

“We want to see promotions based on merit, not on what someone can offer or who they know. You cannot have new employees without experience being promoted above older, more experienced employees,” Beene stated.

He, however, acknowledged government’s positive strides in addressing issues of corruption, nepotism, tribalism, and cadreism within the civil service.

Beene also urged civil servants to avoid corruption and the misappropriation of public funds.

Union member, Ivyn Bwalya, commended the government for the transparent recruitment of teachers and health workers in the last mass recruitment exercise, noting it had helped reduce the teacher-to-pupil ratio.

“I commend the government for the massive recruitment in the Civil Service, especially in the education sector,” Bwalya said.

He expressed optimism that the government would maintain transparency in future recruitment exercises.

Union Copperbelt Coordinator, Arsenic Hampungani, called on the government to expedite the review of the Employment Code Act number 3 of 2023 to assess job availability and creation potential.

“A lot of jobs were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which drastically reduced employment levels in the country,” Hampungani stated.

He also urged the government to address the power deficit, which he said threatened existing jobs.

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