The Minister of Public Service, Mr Keketso Sello says without a strong public sector and committed public officers, efficient delivery of expected services to the citizens shall never be realized.
Mr. Sello said this when officially opening the Capacity Building Seminar for States Parties to the African Charter on the Values and Principles of Public Service and Administration on the State Parties Assessment Tool (SPAT).
The three-day seminar amongst others aims at familiarizing participants with the provisions of the Charter and tools for effective reporting on its implementation and make participants understand when and how to conduct a state party assessment and the requirements for ensuring objective and impartial assessments.
The Minister said he is grateful and humbled for the opportunity granted to the country to host this august seminar; The African Charter on the Values and Principles of Public Service and Administration – Assessment Tool.
He remarked that this seminar came at the right time when Africa Public Service is required to act on several fronts at the same time an economic environment characterized by ever increasing financial constraints, where the Public Service is clouded by reports on unprecedented corruption.
He stressed that the recipients of public services; the citizens are dissatisfied and have completely lost confidence in the public agencies due to poor quality of services extended to them, manifested by long queues and lack of professionalism in the delivery of such services.
He expressed belief that the African Charter on Values and Principles of Public Service shall play a pivotal role in strengthening the capacity and capability of the Public Service for the improved performance and service delivery.
He noted that this can be achieved through the introduction of modern and innovative procedures and systems for the delivery of public services as expounded under Article 8 of the Charter, use of modern technologies to support delivery of such services and the Code of Conduct which emphasizes professionalism in the execution of duties by Public Officers.
He thanked the European Union (EU) for funding this seminar, AUC for the facilitation role and all States Parties and MDIs of the Southern Region for making time to attend this critical and highly significant training, saying their participation is highly appreciated.
On the same token, the African Union Representative, Mr. Issaka Garba Abdou said he is happy to be in this beautiful city of Maseru as part of this joint Capacity Building Seminar for Africa’s Management Development Institutes and officials from State Parties to the African Charter on the Values and Principles of Public Service and Administration.
He thanked the African Management Development Institute Network (AMDIN) for providing financial and technical support to facilitate the convening of this seminar.
He said the Charter is the first legally binding regional public service and administration instrument that serves to promote and improve quality of public service delivery, fighting corruption and generally building a capable state for accelerated development in Africa.
He therefore urged participants to share their expertise and individual experiences to achieve fruitful results after the seminar.
Also speaking, the Director General Lesotho Institute of Public Administration and Management, Ms Nthabiseng Thamae said life is a continuous process with no end, therefore it is imperative that all cautiously develop in pursuit of excellence.
She added that if the African Charter is well implemented, it will go a long way in pursuit of excellence, saying all stakeholders will leave this place as different people in terms of knowledge and skills.
Participants at this seminar include representatives from Malawi, South Africa and Lesotho.
 
By staff Reporter: ‘Maphoka Likotsi