Technocrats seek input in policy formulation
TECHNOCRATS have called for their inclusion in policy formulation and implementation so that they also contribute to policy and decision-making at all levels.
Datum Surveying Consultants chief land surveyor Engineer Michael Kagweya appealed to Government to recruit technocrats in key and strategic positions to allow them to influence policy formulation and implementation to enhance economic revival.
“Government needs to extend the technical approach to all sectors. Technocrats should be placed in key and strategic positions to enable them to spearhead the resuscitation of Government institutions,” he said.
He explained that by incorporating competent and qualified personnel in key positions they will be better positioned to help transform key Government institutions and facilitate economic revival.
Makoni Rural District Council Engineer Edmore Chidembo said technocrats were still struggling with a disabling political antipathy, as they had to constantly ward off unwanted political influence when making key decisions.
“Technocrats are still being affected by a polarising political environment. In some institutions politics is interfering with policy while sometimes political influence clouds decisions. Technocrats are being disempowered, as they are at times not consulted when decisions are made or when they are consulted their input is ignored.
“There is need to recruit more technocrats to strengthen the technical skills base of various Government departments,” he said.
Eng Chidembo said the recruitment of more technocrats in key positions would help to restore public trust in key institutions and lure more investors as they are more likely to invest in institutions headed by competent and qualified people.
He called on institutions to appoint staff on merit and performance as opposed to political affiliation to build institutional capacity by ensuring competence.
“There is need to ensure independence of local authorities from political influence to empower institutions to operate efficiently and effectively. There is also need for all players in land distribution to coordinate,” he said.
Other technocrats expressed concern over the vacuum in the Ministry of Lands, which they said had a shortage of town planners, which is leading to the establishments of settlements without basic social service facilities like schools, clinics, recreational centres and stores in some areas.
“The Ministry of Lands has a shortage of town planners hence it is failing to engage planners in resettlement resulting in this disharmony in human settlement. The ministry needs to engage town planners to rectify the situation.”