E-governance is a policy that aims to "make government administration more transparent, speedy and accountable, while addressing the society's needs and expectations through efficient public services" using the internet.
Here's the glitch though.
It's all rubbish!
In 2004 The Namibian published an article by one Andre Kloppers with the headline, 'E-governance is on the way, but don't hold your breath'.
Quite psychic for a 2004 story.
"Anyone who has ever applied for a document at Namibia's Ministry of Home Affairs can testify that it is not the most efficient of government services. The good news is that there may be a light at the end of the tunnel in the form of Government's proposed e-governance plan. Namibia's e-governance draft policy promises 'speedy, transparent, accountable, efficient and effective processes for government administration'," the article said.
I guess Home Affairs staff vetoed the possibility of e-applications for national documents. Who would they mistreat if there are no queues?
It is clear that these guys completely forgot what they wanted to do in 2004. The DTA did not govern Namibia in 2004, yet we are as close to applying for any government service electronically as it is easy to find a government office that doesn't smell of fish and chips after lunch. I think government's first instinct is to muzzle and regulate that which the leaders of the day don't understand.
Geingob, in this week's story, said under the e-Government Strategic Action Plan (eGSAP), the government policy of 2005 will need to be revised while a new legislation dealing with "inappropriate web content and online safety among others" will be developed. The update by the premier comes at a time when a motion on the use of social media in the country is set to be tabled in parliament.
"E-government services will be provided online to bring government services closer to the people," Geingob said.
While Geingob's 'Swapo Party' government has changed their tone around this issue dramatically since the advent of social media, they have made as much progress as an unmotivated, weed-smoking, orphaned snail with a physical disability who was just dropped by his love interest.
They could brag and boast about this and that but government's commitment to free access to information and such fuzzy ideals are well and truly reflected in the mass of free information they avail through the wonderful interactive websites of the information ministry and that of the Prime Minister.
Oops! I didn't just say that? Did I?
Well, I'm sure they are all good and sexy, but I can't tell. They've been loading for the last few days, sans success.
According to Geingob, a five-year eGSAP 2013-2018 which is the blue print for ICT in the public sector is in the final stages of adoption.
But this isn't what they said in 2004.
"The policy states that e-governance should be a reality by 2015, but it seems the project will face major challenges along the way," said Kloppers' 2004 story.
It would be interesting to see how Joel Kaapanda would try and blame The Namibian for his 'Swapo-party' government's complete failure to make any headway in e-governance. I'm expecting an urgent and angry press statement in the next two weeks. Og, this bloody Namibian newspaper also, ne!
Is it because we treat the Information Communications Technology portfolio in our government as the bastard child we managed to produce during a drunken night in Aranos that we can't make progress? We're happy to give it to anyone and forgot it ever existed.
Even though this portfolio has been occupied by the same person for the last few years, it is as vacant as a science teaching post in a rural backwater.
That awkward moment when you realise your ICT minister has never posted a LMBIMMI, in anger, or sub tweeted the shit out of Ngurare, marveled at Mushe's sophistication and got inspired by The Dogg's spelling.
Does the occupant of that portfolio know what an app is?
I guess I'll be dusting off this article again in 2022 and civil servants would still not be any closer to using their computers for anything other than Facebook and Solitaire.
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Quelle/Source: AllAfrica, 18.10.2013
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