The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Honourable Prisca Mupfumira has said the building of civil servants houses, which is part of the government’s commitments to the workers, will start in two weeks time. The Minister said this during a press briefing on the Public Service Day commemorations, at her offices in Harare today
The building of houses for civil servants, is part of the efforts by the Government to reduce the housing backlog and remunerate its workers.
“As Government we are committed to the welfare of our workers. There are efforts to provide affordable housing to civil servants by partnering with the National Building Society whose mandate is also to provide low-cost housing,” she said.
Last month the Government identified various areas in cities and towns for residential stands and construction of high-rise apartment blocks for civil servants.
Besides the building of house for its workers, Mupfumira said that the Government was also providing loans.
“Through the Manpower, Planning and Development, Government provides training loans for civil servants who want to further their education,” the Minister said.
According to the Minister, this year’s commemorations of the Public Service Day shall be held in Masvingo under the theme: Partnering with the Youth for a Professional and Responsive Public Service.
“The theme is premised on having a public service which caters the for the needs of the general public in fulfillment of concerted efforts to promote sustainable socio-economic development. We chose Masvingo Province to host this year’s event as we are trying covering all the provinces in the country. Last year, the commemorations were held in Mashonaland West and in the previous years, Midlands, Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland East have hosted the event.”
The Public Service Day was first put aside by the African Union in 1994 as a day to celebrate the values and virtues of civil servants in communities .
In 2003, the United Nations General Assembly under resolution 52/277 adopted 23 June as the UN Public Service Day. Internationally, UN commemorations are being held in the Hague, Netherlands and in Africa, continental commemorations are being held in Kigali, Rwanda.
