Section 200: Conduct of members of Public Service
Constitution of Zimbabwe
(1) Members of the Public Service must act in accordance with this Constitution and the law.
[Subsection amended by s. 25 of Act No. 2 of 2021]
(2) No member of the Public Service may obey an order that is manifestly illegal.
[Subsection amended by s. 25 of Act No. 2 of 2021]
(3) No member of the Public Service may, in the exercise of their functions—
(a) act in a partisan manner;
(b) further the interests of any political party or cause;
(c) prejudice the lawful interests of any political party or cause; or
(d) violate the fundamental rights or freedoms of any person.
[Subsection amended by s. 25 of Act No. 2 of 2021]
(4) Members of the Public Service must not be office-bearers of any political party.
[Subsection amended by s. 25 of Act No. 2 of 2021]
(5) An Act of Parliament must make provision to ensure the political neutrality of the Public Service.
[Subsection amended by s. 25 of Act No. 2 of 2021]
Key Insight: Political Neutrality as a Constitutional Safeguard
This section establishes the Public Service as an independent, non-partisan institution by design. The constitutional requirement for political neutrality serves as a critical check against government abuse of administrative power, ensuring that public servants serve all citizens equally regardless of political affiliation. This separation between public administration and political influence is fundamental to maintaining public trust in state institutions and preserving democratic governance.