By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
THE Public Service Commission (PSC) Provincial Coordinator Serumula Nichodimus has urged school and district heads to familiarise themselves with public service pension, payroll and human resources systems to improve service delivery and accountability.
Serumula, who represented PSC Secretary Mrs Sibusisiwe Zemba, was speaking during the Public Service Commission Capacity Building Exercise Programme for School Heads and District Heads held in Beitbridge on Monday.
He said the programme was aimed at empowering public servants with information needed to navigate government systems while strengthening transparency and accountability.
“An empowered nation is an informed nation,” Serumula said, stressing the importance of ensuring that public servants have access to clear, credible and timely information.
He said the initiative was anchored on the need for an efficient, effective and accountable public service that works with and for the people.
The training covered Talent Management, Payroll Management and Pensions Management, with specialists from relevant PSC departments providing guidance to the participants.
Serumula said the PSC was also using such engagements to gather feedback from public servants on challenges affecting service delivery.
“By gathering your feedback, the PSC can identify on-the-ground challenges and refine systems to better serve its clients, enabling a two-way engagement that is vital for rebuilding trust,” he said.
Presenting on Payroll Management Mr Daniel Siziba said public servants should understand the requirements governing pension contributions and benefits.
He said employees who meet the applicable requirements, including completing at least 13 years of continuous pensionable service and reaching the official retirement age, are eligible for a monthly pension and a lump-sum payout.
Siziba also told participants that employees appointed at the age of 50 years and above are not eligible to contribute to the pension scheme, meaning those appointed at that age do not qualify for pension contributions under the scheme.
The Human Capital Development session focused on training programmes designed to prepare civil servants for retirement and career transitions, while the Pensions Department provided guidance on applications, eligibility and required paperwork.
The programme also addressed payroll processes and the resolution of disbursement errors.
The PSC said the capacity-building exercise was aligned with the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), particularly its focus on inclusive economic growth, social protection and sound governance.