Governance activist Wesley Miyanda has supported Government’s […]

Governance activist Wesley Miyanda has supported Government’s decision to part ways with some staff at the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency ZAMMSA, saying similar action should be considered in other Government institutions where bureaucracy and weak accountability are affecting service delivery.

In an interview with Zambian Business Times-ZBT Miyanda said government should use the developments at ZAMMSA as an opportunity to examine how other public institutions operate and identify systems that may be creating unnecessary delays and opportunities for corruption.

Miyanda said bureaucracy remained a challenge in some Government institutions, particularly where procedures become unnecessarily lengthy and decisions take too long to be made. He said such systems can make it difficult for citizens and businesses to access services efficiently, while also creating opportunities for officials to take advantage of administrative processes for personal benefit.

Miyanda said Government should therefore review its institutions and remove unnecessary bureaucratic procedures that do not contribute to effective service delivery.

He said the focus should not only be on removing individual employees but also on fixing the systems within institutions that allow inefficiency and alleged corrupt practices to continue. Miyanda said institutions should have clear accountability structures, with officials expected to account for decisions involving public resources.

He said Government should also ensure that reforms in public institutions are followed by effective monitoring so that changes in personnel translate into improved service delivery.

Miyanda said the ZAMMSA situation should therefore not be treated as an isolated case, but as an opportunity to examine whether similar institutional weaknesses exist in other Government agencies.

He said reducing bureaucracy and strengthening accountability across the public service would help government improve efficiency and ensure that public institutions remain focused on serving citizens.

Article by Karen Ngulube