Government has procured and distributed 51 tractors, 20 combine harvesters and 94 tillers to 100 chiefdoms across the country at the cos of K26.6 million.

In her speech at the commemoration of Africa Public Service Day at Government Complex yesterday, Vice president Inonge Wina said the initiative was meant to boost the manufacturing sector and create employment, food security and good nutrition at household and national levels.

“Government is implementing the agriculture development value chain enhancement project which is empowering women and the youth through mechanization and establishment of value chains in Agro-products. So far, 51 tractors, 20 combine harvesters and 94 tillers have been procured and distributed to 100 chiefdoms countrywide at a cost of K26.6 million. It is envisaged that the initiative will boost the manufacturing sector and create employment, food security and good nutrition at household and national levels,” Wina said.

The Vice president also reminded public service workers of the requisite values and ethics required to support the delivery of effective and responsive public services.

Wina further disclosed that government in collaboration with the United Nations systems had established and operationalized two gender based violence fast track courts in Lusaka and Kabwe.

“This has resulted in the speeding up of case handling and disposal. For instance, as of February 2017, the Kabwe fast track court was able to handle 38 gender based violence cases of which 73 percent were disposed off within 30 days.This is unlike the past when it used to take more than two years to conclude a case. In the same vein, 13 one stop centres have been established across the country to enhance access to gender based violence after-care services such as health and counseling,” she said.

“In addition, anti-gender based violence task forces have been established across the country to involve and enhance the participation of local communities in addressing the scourge. So far, a total of 34 task forces have been formed and operationalized.”

Wina further revealed that government was making efforts to propel the country into digital economy including the establishment of the national data centre and implementation of phase two installation of communication towers countrywide.

She also announced the ongoing implementation of the public service transformation strategy aimed at achieving a transformed public service that is professional, ethical, entrepreneurial, development oriented and accountable to the people of Zambia.

“Among the interventions in the strategy are the Human Resource Management reforms under which government is seeking to attain a human resource management system in the public service anchored on principles and values that promote quality delivery of services for national development,” said Wina.

“In an effort to enhance professionalism in the public service, government is building organizational and functional leadership and management capacity at different levels. This is being pursued through among others, strategic institutional partnership, and generic and tailor-made leadership and management development programmes.”

The vice president also said progress was being made by public institutions to embrace provision of electronic services such as E-payslip, online tax registration and returns, E-voucher, E-procurement, business registration and E-VISA.

And Speaking at the same event, Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) trustee Liseli Sitali reiterate the call for efficient state driven public service delivery to accelerate decent work, social protection, poverty alleviation and fighting inequality.

“ZCTU would like to urge government to ensure that multinational corporations contribute to employment generation to help address the high unemployment rate in the country and to live up to their responsibility of paying their share of taxes to grow our economy,” said Sitali.

The event was also coupled with awards presentation to deserving government institutions and Ministries.

The 2017 Africa Public Service Day was commemorated under the theme “Entrenching citizen centered service delivery culture: partnering with the Youth for Africa’s Transformation.”