Story by Josephine Mugiyo, Diplomatic Correspondent
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has commended Zimbabwe’s civil service for its pivotal role in supporting the Executive, saying that performance-based contracts for senior officials have strengthened work culture and improved service delivery across government.
Speaking at the final Cabinet meeting of 2025 at State House, Harare, President Mnangagwa highlighted the importance of an efficient civil service for the smooth functioning of the Executive. He praised the leadership of Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Martin Rushwaya, noting initiatives that enhanced coordination and administrative efficiency.
“I commend the entire Civil Service, through the Chief Secretary, for ably supporting the weighty functions of the Executive. The year saw the Chief Secretary undertaking familiarisation visits to Ministries where matters peculiar to your portfolios, mandates, together with the annual Cabinet Business Calendar, administrative arrangements and practices, were under the spotlight. This forum opened up further attention and brought up innovative ways of creating a seamless executive function,” President Mnangagwa said.
The Head of State said the introduction of performance-based contracts has resulted in a robust, people-centred public administration.
“We institutionalised a results-oriented culture across Government, anchored on modern performance management systems, while also strengthening accountability mechanisms and promoting digitalised processes. These have seen us curbing the red tape, towards improved service delivery across the board. Performance Contracts for senior officials continue to enhance performance, ensuring that national objectives are achieved with measurable impact and responsibility. These changes have created a public administration that is citizen-focused, efficient, and aligned with our developmental aspirations as well as the spirit and letter of the constitution,” he said.
On the energy sector, President Mnangagwa reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s commitment to increasing power generation and supporting independent power producers under the National Energy Compact.
“Through the National Energy Compact, the country will continue to strengthen power generation and support independent power producers. Our collective efforts on this front should see us achieve access to reliable, affordable, sustainable, and clean energy for our communities in both rural and urban areas,” he said.
Cabinet is set to resume sittings in 2026.
