This Week: Zambia applaud the establishment of Zambian Society for Public Administration

Kelvin ESIASA

By Kelvin Esiasa

The Chinese proverbs say “a journey of a thousand miles begins beneath one’s feet”.

Finally on June 26, 2014 the Zambian Society for Public Administration was officially launched by the Secretary to Cabinet in Lusaka at Chrismar Hotel. The launch has been applauded by many government officials and other stakeholders.

The Zambian Society for Public Administration (ZSPA) was formed in 2013.The organization was formed after a wide consultation among local and International stakeholders. During the consultation period a number of Zambians endorsed the idea of establishing the organization to promote the interest of public administrators, local government administrators, public administration practitioners and policy analysts.

ZSPA is the professional association for persons involved in Policy Analysis, Policy Research, Local Government Administration, Public Administration and Management. It is a voluntary, non-profit, member-based organization that enables people to exchange ideas on trends, practices and innovations.

ZSPA aims to promote good governance and encourage excellence in the provision of public services in Zambia. ZSPA would also promote its mandate through various activities such as Public Service Excellence Awards, Mystery shopping index and Quarterly Public Service Magazine.

Prior to the official launch of ZSPA the Acting Republican President of Zambia Honorable Wynter Kabimba noted that the launch of the ZSPA was a millstone for the Zambian community and government has welcomed the formation of the organisation.

He said that the Zambian community yearned to have an organization such as ZSPA in order to assist government to promote good governance and service excellence in public administration. He also noted that there was need to support the organization so that it delivery its mandate. He later encouraged the organization to work hard and ensure that it worked within its mandate.

The Acting President further noted that Zambia had no membership organization that supported networking among public administrators in Zambia. Therefore, he thanked founders of the ZSPA for establishing the organization.
The Acting Presidents also applauded the initiative by the ZSPA to jointly host the conference on good governance with CIMPAD in June, 2015. The Acting President spoke this when ZSPA and CIMPAD Board of Directors paid a courtesy call at his office.

In launching the Zambian Society for Public Administration (ZSPA) the Guest of Honour Secretary to Cabinet Dr. Rowland Msiska said that government was excited that at the time Zambia was celebrating the golden jubilee an organization of great importance was being launched as well. He said that government was pleased to see that public administrator had come together so that they could help government in ensuring there is service excellence in public service.

Meanwhile, Dr. Msiska appealed to Zambians to pay particular attention to good governance and service excellence in public service which was being pursued by the ZSPA. He also said that poor governance was increasingly being cited as one of the most important factors contributing to unsatisfactory economic growth and human development in Zambia and other parts of Africa. He also challenged Zambians to embrace service excellence in service excellence.

Meanwhile the Secretary to Cabinet appealed to Zambians to reflect on the vision and ambition of Zambia’s founding fathers. He traced that reflecting on the vision of the founding fathers was cardinal in the development of Zambia. He urged Zambians also to stand out and promote service excellence just like an eagle on the Zambian flag.

Speaking earlier at the Launch of the ZSPA visiting Past President of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) and founder of the Consortium, international, Management, Policy and Development (CIMPAD) Dr. Harvey White advised ZSPA to develop itself as a vibrate organization in Zambia and southern Africa. Dr.White said that USA organization such as American Society for Public Administration (ASPA), Conference on Minority Public Administrators (COMPA), and National Forum for Black Americans and Consortium for international Management Policy and development (CIMPAD) supported the established of the ZSPA in Zambia. He said that many American Public Administrators were pleased to see the establishment and were ready to embrace all efforts that would be centered on the success of the organization.
Meanwhile, Dr. White advised ZSPA to be focused and ensure that it did not disappoint the Zambian people. He also advised ZSPA to promote service excellence in public service.
Later in the day during the public lecture, his worship the Mayor of Lusaka said he was happy to note that the ZSPA had also incorporated local government administrators in the organization. He congratulated the organization for the noble cause. He said that he welcomed the organization because Lusaka city needed men and women who would turn the city of Lusaka as a model city in Zambia.
The Mayor also noted that Lusaka City council had a number of plans which were aimed at transforming the city of Lusaka and invited ZSPA to work together with the City administrators. The Mayor made these remarks during the Public Lecture organized by ZSPA.
Other organizations that had applauded the launch of ZSPA were University of Zambia (UNZA), Zambian Open University (ZOU), University of Lusaka (UNILUS) and National Institute for Public Administration (NIPA).