Good Principles of Governance in Public Administration

Governance in Public Administration

Governance in public administration is an important topic, but in many countries around the world there is often found a lack of good governance. Zimbabwe’s public administration is one example that serves as a case in point. As Chikara (2020) points out, there is a great deal of nepotism, back-room dealing, and dishonesty in Zimbabwe’s government. The leaders lack good governance principles. Good governance principles generally consist of those which serve to keep any organization honest.

Indeed, there are a number of principles that contribute to good governance in public administration. One of the most important is transparency. This means that government actions and decision-making processes should be open and accessible to the public. Another key principle is accountability. This means that government officials and institutions should be accountable to the people they serve. They should be able to justify their actions and decisions, and be held accountable for any mistakes or wrongdoings. The problem in Zimbabwe is that there is little transparency in its national institutions and public administration branches, and little to no accountability. It is very difficult for the people to hold its leaders accountable, as there is no system of accountability in place that can do so. Every branch of government is stymied by the same systems of nepotism, bribery, fraud, and corruption that seem to prevent good governance from ever taking hold in the country.

Additionally, another sound principle is that good governance requires effective and efficient communication between the government and the public. When the lines of communication are open, the public is able to hold officials accountable and to provide feedback that can help to improve government policies. Also, good governance relies on the rule of law. This means that all individuals and organizations, including the government, are subject to the same legal rules and regulations. When these principles are followed, it leads to better governance and a more efficient and effective public administration. As 1 Timothy 3:2 states, “An overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach.” When he is full of vice, he demonstrates bad leadership that weakens the organization around him.

Zimbabwe’s administration has been mired in corruption for years, and the country’s government has been accused of enriching themselves at the expense of the Zimbabwean people. In recent years, there has been a growing movement to hold Zimbabwe’s government accountable for their actions and to demand transparency and good governance. The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission has made some progress in its fight against corruption, but much more needs to be done to root out this problem. In order to effectively combat corruption, it is essential that all levels of government are committed to transparency and accountability. Only then can the people of Zimbabwe hope to see real change in their country's administration (Chikara, 2020).

As Michalopoulos and Papaioannou (2014) report, public administrations should be able to show correlation between national institutions and prosperity—but this is not always the case in many states throughout Africa. The idea is that the more government is there to serve and provide, the better off the state should be (Michalopoulos & Papaioannou, 2014). The problem is that institutions set up to help the public end up being led by individuals who do not follow the principles of good governance. In the end, however, good governance is essential for the wellbeing of any society. It ensures that vital services are provided, that taxes are collected fairly, and that laws are enforced evenly.