Reimagining Public Service in Africa: A Case for Human-Centric Leadership in Zimbabwe

This literature-based study explores the potential of reimagining public service delivery in Africa, specifically focusing on Zimbabwe. It posits that embracing human-centric leadership is key to revitalising public institutions and fostering improved service delivery outcomes across the continent. Drawing upon established scholarly works and relevant case studies, the study dissects the limitations of the current bureaucratic and fragmented approaches to public service prevalent in many African countries. It then proposes a theoretical framework for human-centric leadership within the Zimbabwean context, emphasising core principles like empathy, responsiveness, accountability, and active citizen engagement. This framework champions servant leadership, collaborative problem-solving with citizens, and the strategic utilisation of technology to bolster transparency and efficiency. By synthesising existing academic knowledge, best practices from other countries, and insights gleaned from Zimbabwe’s public sector stakeholders, the study culminates in a roadmap for implementing the proposed framework. It advocates for fostering a culture of human-centric leadership within Zimbabwe’s public service, with the goal of enhancing service delivery and fostering better outcomes for its citizens. This study proposes a novel human-centric leadership framework for Zimbabwe’s public service, aiming to revitalise institutions and improve service delivery through empathy, responsiveness, and citizen engagement.