Background

About the Ministry of the Public Service

Vision Statement

By 2025, Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies are adequately resourced and manned with highly capable, competent, dependable and motivated public officers that effectively and efficiently deliver services of high quality to the nation.

Mission Statement

To provide public service legislative instruments, policies, structures and systems that facilitate efficient and effective civil service performance and increased productivity towards attainment of national development goals.

Core Values

• Commitment to duty
• Customer needs oriented services
• Professionalism
• Team spirit
• Quality service
• Staff wellness
• Zero tolerance to Corruption
• Transparency
• Results based performance

Historical Background

The Ministry of the Public Service was formerly known as Cabinet Personnel under the office of the Prime Minister. It was responsible for the management of Personnel in the Civil Service. It was granted Ministerial status in the 1985/86 financial year as the executive arm of the Minister responsible for the Administration of the personnel functions in the Public Service. It was granted full Ministerial autonomy in 1999/2000. In 2007, it became a full-fledged Ministry when it was assigned a Minister.

The Mandate Of the Ministry

Ministry of the Public Service is responsible for provision of quality and effective human resources
Management services to the Government Ministries and Agencies. It is also charged with overseeing the
Performance of the line Ministries and their compliance to the laws and regulations governing the Public
Service. In the past years, the Ministry’s preoccupation has been on the preparation and creation of a conducive environment for an efficient and effective performance of the Public Service through development of legal frameworks, policies and systems. Presently the focus is mainly on improving Public Service delivery, improving individuals and Ministerial capacity and development.

Three Plus One Service Delivery Initiative

During the five year term of the Parliament of Lesotho, the focus of the Ministry will be on the transformation of the Public Service into a better and more effective machinery which is able to turn into reality the Government Policy of “Ha ho tatoe”. This will be achieved through what has been termed the “3 plus 1 Service Delivery Improvement Initiative”, where the Ministry will be focusing on

	Motivation and Support to Public Officers
	Discipline and professionalism within the public service
	Improvement of performance and service delivery
	Transformation of Lesotho Institute of Public Administration and Management – LIPAM

MOTIVATION AND SUPPORT TO THE PUBLIC OFFICERS

Achievement of Government goals and execution of Government policies thrives on a motivated and supported workforce. For a long time, Public Service performance has been below the acceptable standards which has been attributed to uncompetitive remuneration packages, an aspect which marks it impossible to attract and retain high quality personnel. It was therefore deemed important that strategies are employed towards provision of care and support to employees, in order to build a competitive Public Service in as far as acquisition of human resources is concerned, thereby making the Public Service an employeer of choice .

DISCIPLINE AND PROFESSIONALISM WITHIN THE PUBLIC SERVICE

In order to transform the Public Service, the individuals within the Public Service have to transform. Public Officers have to be disciplined, professional and ethical in the manner they conduct themselves in the execution of assigned duties and responsibilities. Therefore there is a need for a paradigm shift in the way they currently operate and serious change of attitudes, mindset and mental models through learning that will instill a deep understanding of who they are and what they stand for.
Research has shown that transformation of mindset and world view is a requirement when initiating any changes towards effective service delivery and improved public service performance. This aspect is very critical and once achieved service delivery will immensely improve.

IMPROVEMENT OF PERFORMANCE AND SERVICE DELIVERY

As we endeavor to improve the lives of Basotho through provision of essential services, poverty reduction initiatives, access to economic participation and improved service delivery becomes imperative. However improved service delivery within the Public Service remains a challenge. Numerous strategies were employed to redress the situation but in vain. The current performance management system needs to be improved. It is therefore significant to overhaul the Public Service to make it responsive and committed to the provision of excellent services to the public.

TRANSFORMATION OF LESOTHO INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT – LIPAM

There is a need to transform LIPAM to become autonomous and leading management development institute responsive to the needs of the Public Sector in particular and the country in general