Title: Performance management challenges in the Ministry of Health and Child Care in Zimbabwe

Authors: Mervis Chiware; Shikha Vyas-Doorgapersad

Addresses: School of Public Management, Governance and Public Policy, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg, South Africa ' School of Public Management, Governance and Public Policy, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg, South Africa

Abstract: The study examines the performance management challenges in the Ministry of Health and Child Care in Zimbabwe. It further assesses the effectiveness of performance management (PM) and performance appraisal (PA) systems used to assess performance in the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MOHCC) in Zimbabwe. Qualitative research instruments that include interviews, focus group discussions and documents were used to collect data. The study found that despite the implementation of PM measures, the performance of the MOHCC has continued to deteriorate due to various challenges. These challenges include a lack of leadership support and commitment, procedural fairness, training, properly defined vision and understanding regarding PM and PA. The study offers suggestions for improvement at political, policy, organisational, departmental, individual, and stakeholder levels. The study contributes to current knowledge of PM as a professional and applied discipline in the public sector.

Keywords: performance appraisal; performance management challenges; public service reforms; PSRs; Ministry of Health and Child Care; MOHCC; Zimbabwe.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMP.2023.132082

International Journal of Management Practice, 2023 Vol.16 No.4, pp.495 - 514

Received: 19 Jul 2021
Accepted: 20 Oct 2021
Published online: 11 Jul 2023 *

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