Public Service Amendment Bill H.B. 8, 2025

This is a Bill — H.B. 8 of 2025 — not law. It proposes amendments to the Public Service Act, largely to align it with the Constitution, and takes effect only if passed and brought into operation.

Three proposals change what it is like to be a public servant. Members of the Public Service would have the right to participate in collective job action, except for those in essential services, with regulations prescribing the conditions under which it may be taken. Maternity leave would be ninety-eight days on full pay. And violence and harassment at the workplace, including of a sexual or gender-based nature, would be prohibited outright.

A fourth protects pay. No law would be permitted to reduce the fixed salary or salary scale applicable to a member of the Public Service unless that member has been found guilty of misconduct or has consented to the reduction in writing.

On the Commission itself: Commissioners would be appointed by the President for five years, renewable once, and could resign on twenty-one days' notice to the President. Four would form a quorum. The Secretary of the Commission would be appointed by the President on the Minister's recommendation, also for five years renewable once. The Commission would report annually to the Minister by the end of March following the year reported on. Commission members would have to declare their assets to the Corporate Governance Unit on appointment or reappointment.

The Minister would be able to give general written policy directives to the Commission, but the Bill attaches conditions: a directive must not contravene the Act, must be given in good faith, and must clearly express the national interest at stake.

Responsibility for managing and supervising members within a Ministry would sit with the Permanent Secretary concerned, subject to the appropriate Minister's general direction and on the Commission's advice, with the Chief Secretary supervising Permanent Secretaries. Permanent Secretaries' terms would be fixed by the President, and the power to discipline or suspend one would vest in the President.

In appointment and promotion, the Commission would have to avoid discrimination on any of the grounds in section 56 of the Constitution — nationality, race, colour, tribe, place of birth, ethnic or social origin, language, class, religious belief, political affiliation, opinion, custom, culture, sex, gender, marital status, age, pregnancy, disability, or economic or social status. Every member would have to be non-partisan in discharging their duties, and a new section would govern members seeking election to Parliament and local authorities.

On discipline, a member aggrieved by a Disciplinary Authority's verdict or penalty could apply to the Commission for review; a member aggrieved by the Commission could appeal to the Labour Court.

Finally, the Bill would allow the Minister, on the Commission's advice, to establish a Public Service Academy for continuous professional development, with its legal capacity, objects, autonomy and administration set out in a charter granted by the President by proclamation. The Zimbabwe Institute of Public Administration and Management Act would be repealed once that Academy is established.