Inclusive governance critical for progress, says Deputy Secretary-General

Inclusive governance that enables the state, private sector and civil society to work together towards transforming a country is critical, Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba has said.

She stated that although it is the state that drives the development agenda, good governance requires active participation of other stakeholders.

Ms Masire-Mwamba was speaking on 19 January 2008 at the opening of a five-day Commonwealth workshop on ‘Political Administrative Interface for Effective Governance and Public Service Delivery’ held at Piggs Peak, just outside the Swaziland capital, Mbabane.

“The challenge now is to identify the critical actions needed to implement to make this a reality. This will take both political will and an effective public service that is accountable. Having a robust performance management system in the public service that will inculcate a performance culture and a drive for results is therefore imperative,“ said Ms Masire-Mwamba.

The event, for Cabinet Ministers and principal secretaries, is jointly organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Government of Swaziland. It is aimed at building the capacity of the new cabinet following the general elections in September 2008.

The priority areas of the new government include health care; job creation and economic growth; poverty reduction; improved public service delivery; education; infrastructure development; sanitation; and food security.

To deliver on these goals, the Secretariat is helping to build knowledge and teamwork among cabinet ministers and their principal secretaries to enhance their skills in bringing about the social transformation of their country. They will look at values, principles, priorities, strategies and accountability.

The workshop involves discussions on leadership and the assessment of government operations for effective political and administrative synergies to achieve national development targets. This includes fostering collaborative relationships with other branches of state such as the judiciary and legislature.

Key Links:

• Governance
• Country Profile: Swaziland