From the 13 districts in Khost province, one of them is run by a 30-year-old man who has been the youngest serve in the post in the eastern part of Afghanistan. Abdulhai Zazai started serving as district governor when he was 26 years old. 

Zazai is serving as district governor of Guzbuz – a district in the southeast of Khost province which lies along the Durand Line, the de facto border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Gurbuz is located 20 kilometers to the southeast of Khost city and has over 50,000 population. Majority of the residents in Gurbuz are associated with business and many of the youths from the remote regions of the province work overseas.  

He has served as district governor for four districts of Khost including Bak, Musakhel and Nadir Shah Kot.

Zazai, who is a native of Zazi Maidan district, has a bachelor’s degree in Sharia law. His father, who had served in the ranks of Afghan National Police, died in a suicide attack in Khost. Zazai’s five elder brothers also followed the path of their father and joined Afghan police but he chose to be a civil servant.

Zazi holds different meetings with Gurbuz residents who ask him to implement plans on boosting education in the province – among other issues raised by his visitors. 

He says a government servant should always be prepared for serving his people. 

“A government servant is successful when he addresses the problems of the people on time and does not care whether it is a working or an official day. He should work day and night to resolve the issues facing the public,” said Zazai.

Some Gurbuz residents, who held a meeting with Zazai last week, said it is the time that government brings the young generation to serve the people and the country. 

“We need a brave person to serve the people, a person who has a commitment towards his country, work, and action,” said Gul Shah Khan, a Gurbuz resident.  

Baitullah, 43, who is in Gurbuz to resolve a legal issue said that fighting corruption in government institutions is a fundamental need to ensure social development. 

“If someone is hired through corruption or a party, then he is unable to perform his duty in the right way,” he said. 

The Khost governor Halim Fedaee said efforts are underway to hold training programs for local officials on modern governance and to boost coordination among local offices. 
 
“This will help us to offer more effective and tangible services to the people,” Fedaee said.