The executive branch is responsible for the day-to-day running of the country. It consists of the president, deputy president and cabinet, and they oversee the public service. Some of the functions of the executive are to:

• Initiate laws and policy
• Carry out laws passed by parliament
• Carry out policies
• Co-ordinate the functions of the government departments and administrators
• Provide direction to heads of government departments
• Plan, monitor and evaluate government programmes

Key Role-Players And Structures in the Executive

It is important to know what structures exist as they can be useful as a point of entry for your lobbying action.

The president, cabinet and deputy ministers are called the executive. The head of state is the president who leads the cabinet. The president is elected by the national assembly from among its members and leads the country in accordance with the Constitution and the law. The key role-players in the executive that may play a role in formulating policy or drafting law will be:

• The president
• The deputy president
• Ministers, directors general and other senior managers who are in charge of different government departments
• Inter-departmental committees. Often policy will cut across a number of ministries and departments. Inter-departmental committees are set up using representatives from different departments, to deal with the policy as a whole and provide direction to directors general who head the public service. For example, in the case of delivery of water, this may involve the departments of water and sanitation, environmental affairs, human settlements, finance and co-operative government.