Union urges civil servants to defy political orders

The Civil Servants and Allied Workers Union of Zambia has urged civil servants to defy orders by politicians who push them to act in a partisan manner.

Secretary General Joy Beene says civil servants should not obey orders bordering on advancing partisan interests.

He says by acting in a partisan manner, civil servants will be violating the Republican Constitution.

Mr. Beene adds that a situation where civil servants become political is not only against the ethics of the profession, but also has far-reaching negative implications for efficiency and effectiveness of the public service.

He stressed the need for public service workers to uphold the principles of neutrality and absolute loyalty to the government in power.