Performance contracting complexities in Zimbabwe’s public sector: the case of the office of the permanent secretary/ created by Barbra Maiwasha and Gay Tapiwa Gweshe

The ailing performance of the public sector in Zimbabwe has become legendary. The government has from time to time instigated a cocktail of reform measures to revamp the effectiveness of this sector, but none seem to yield the desired results. In light of this problem, this study examines the implementation of the performance contracting measure in the Office of the Permanent Secretary within five selected government ministries. The study reviews the significance of performance contracting as a concept vis-a-vis the panorama for its adoption in Zimbabwe's public sector. It also delves into global experiences on performance contracting to extract lessons for Zimbabwe. An exploratory research design is used to have an in-depth review of the matter. Data were gathered by the use of key informant interviews and documentary search. The key research findings indicated that the implementation of performance contracting in the Office of the Permanent Secretary in Zimbabwe has been awkward. Challenges ranging from the application of double standards, inadequate legal framework, lack of a clear template for assessment, an unfavourable economic climate, political interference, resistance to change and low employee motivation loom large in the entire process. The authors conclude that in the absence of a conducive environment, the prospects of performance contracting in Zimbabwe's public sector remain highly hypothetical. The study recommends the establishment of solid legislation, creation of an oversight body, change of the design of performance contracts, extension of performance contracts to all government employees, and the adoption of good ethical practices by all public servants.