LINE MINISTRIES URGED TO SIMILARLY DEVELOP INSTITUTIONAL POLICIES
LUSAKA
Thursday: 21st December, 2023
Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Administration) Dr. Oliver Kalabo says it is a remarkable worth celebrating the first launch and unveiling of two strategies and three institutional policies as this demonstrates the Ministry’s proactive alignment with both the National Legislation and Developmental outcomes laid out in the Eighth National Development Plan (8th NDP) and as a commitment to fostering transparency, accountability, and National progress.
Speaking during the launch of the five policies Dr. Kalabo said the institutional polices collectively contribute to a framework that promotes ethical behavior, accountability, transparent within the rank and file of the Ministry as they act as key ingredients to fostering the conducive environment for sustainable institutional growth and trust. He called on all Government Ministries to take leaf from the Ministry of Technology and Science (MoTs) to development and implement similar policies.
The launched policies and strategies includes the Conflict of Interest, Gift and Benefits, Whistle Blower Protection. Others are the Entrepreneurship Development Strategy and Open and Distance Flexible Learning Strategies.
He said according to the Transparent International Zambia (TIZ) 2022 corruption perception index record that Zambia is ranked One Hundred and Sixteenth least corruption Nation out of the One Hundred and Eighty Countries hence status requires to change. Dr. Kalabo said the fight against corruption is a priority and on top of the agenda of the New Dawn Administration through the Leadership of His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema who has constantly emphasized with a reminder in his speeches and keep calling for the prudent utilization of resources and further urging line Ministries and Spending Agencies to procure at the right price and quality to benefit all Zambians.
Dr. Kalabo said there is need to implement efficiency of procurement of goods and services so at leave up to Zero – Tolerance to corruption so that in the work environment where we have own human failings acknowledged there is hence the need to set supreme standards to uphold of integrity, transparency, and accountability ethical conduct and compliance in the delivery for the people of Zambia but also crucial to foster a culture of transparency and responsibility to support and protecting Whistle Blowers to contribute to an environment where ethical concerns are addressed proactively and symmetrically.
He said the set standard of the policies by the Ministry (MoTS) will help to address and manage potential conflicts and compromise, objectivity and unfairness hence mitigate risks associated with fraud, corruption, and other malpractices.
And Ministry of Technology and Science Permanent Secretary Dr. Brilliant Habeenzu says the newly developed and launched institutional policies and strategies will serve as a guide to improve the performance and integrity of the executed functions of the Ministry in discharging duties and remain key to all the citizenry for the economic development of the Country.
The Permanent Secretary disclosed that the Conflict of Interest, Gift and Benefits and Whistle Blower Protection policie spell out guidelines to the staff and board members presiding over the Ministry and it’s institutions to embrace the preserved content and act in the best interest of the Ministry. He said the institutional policies also provide mechanisms that address any misconduct hence providing a leeway for anyone to come forth with information from any retaliation. Dr. Habeenzu further indicated that the policy documents also reflect the Ministry’s commitment amongst its staff to uphold the highest standard of ethics and credibility and transparency.
On the developed strategies Dr. Habeenzu said the Entrepreneurship Development Strategy Policy provides for a comprehensive plan to foster and support entrepreneurship of Vocational Education and Training to create a conducive environment for vocational and economic growth aimed to provide knowledge and resources amongst the youths and women so as to grow their businesses through networked entrepreneurial activities as embraced in the Eighth National Development Plan and in order to contribute to the social and economic development of the Country.
He said the launched and unveiled Open and Distance Flexible Learning Strategy provides leverages of potential digital technologies which provide access and quality learning opportunities to a diverse training particularly to those who face challenges in traditional face to face learning systems which will help remove the complex of time and place in order to replace and offer flexibility in learning. Dr. Habeenzu said the document also aims at enhancing the capacities and competence of the educators and the learners in using technology for teaching and leaning and similarly to foster a culture of lifelong learning.
The Permanent Secretary called on all to appreciate the launched policies and strategies as they were not only important to the Ministry but very key the Country.
He commended all the experts who tirelessly input their knowledge, resources, and key fundamental information executed on an extensive consultation and collaboration platforms to develop the documents with exerted efforts from the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Cabinet Office, Anti Corruption Commission (ACC), the Ministry officials and its Leadership and all the Stakeholders.
And Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) Director General Tom Trevor Shamakamba said the commission value the participation on the development of the Conflict of Interest, Gift and Benefits, and Whistle Blower Protection policies that have the best intents to execute good governance and best practices of the documents are by large corruption preventative in nature with a goal to immense integrity in an institution and providing guidelines, in work places, for decision making.
Mr. Shamakamba said the absence of such policies leave room for corruption to thrive and adversely affecting the institution and the Country at large and resulting in lack of delivery service to the citizens hence the need to emulate the Ministry to develop and implement such documents.
