Abstract:
Most articles and books attend to the practising of the public administration and
management in countries with stable well established governments and career
public offi cials. It is assumed that a government is operating in accordance with
policies sanctioned by the legislature. The legislature is operating in terms of the
country’s constitution and public offi cials are appointed in accordance with specifi c
legislation determining qualifi cations and service conditions. It is furthermore
accepted that service conditions are formalised; that every employee is appointed
in a clearly demarcated position; and that salaries are paid regularly.
No real research had been done regarding the operation of public administration
in countries with unstable governments and with employees subjected to political
interference. In the case of e.g. Somalia, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Sudan/Southern
Sudan and Mali governments are unstable and for all intents and purposes unable
to perform their governing functions effectively. The question to be addressed
is whether public administration could be practised in accordance with the
generally accepted principles or guidelines and functions performed by offi cials
in leadership positions. Attention will be devoted to the challenge offi cials face
in delivering services in the absence of clear and consistent policies or even
inconsistent or confl icting policies. Another dilemma facing the public sector in
such countries is uncertainty in budgeting as revenue sources are unstable and
may not be available when expenditure is incurred. The availability of personnel
is uncertain as employees are deployed according to political whim or are simply
dismissed without recourse as the central personnel agency is not operational. In
some instances no clear organisational structures exist due to political infi ghting
as in the case of Zimbabwe where co-ministers were appointed. This uncertainty
results in offi cials being in a quandary as far as instructions and even accountability
are concerned.
The article will address the challenges faced in countries struggling to repair
the damages caused by civil strife and to render the basic services without proper
organisational structures, uncertain budget allocations and in the absence of a
proper corps of offi cials trained in the operations of a civil government.
