Gasamagera made the call on October 6, during a one-day international workshop that brought together development gateway managers from 13 African countries, ICT directors from different organizations, Researchers and students in the master's degree program in ICT.
The Gasamagera, who discussed the challenges and opportunities of putting the Government on line, said that the Rwandan government had taken a big and recommendable step towards ICT.
"Our government is taking a rapid move towards a knowledge based economy by training its staff on ICT, National School Net Project, and training senators and majority of deputies from the lower chamber of parliament on ICT. In the parliament for example, almost 80% of the MPs were a few years ago ICT illiterate but they are now equipped with ICT knowledge due to the courses they have undergone," the senator pointed out.
He however condemned those who are resisting modern transformation and are still sticking on the ancient ways of doing things, advising them to change with modern times.
He said that the Rwandan government was looking at the application of electronic means in the interaction between government, citizens and businesses, to simplify and improve democratic and business aspects of Governance.
He disclosed that 27 Government institutions were already connected to internet and plans were underway to interconnect all Ministries, Provinces, and District head offices to use the infrastructure for data transmission and internet connection.
The NUR rector, Professor Silus Rwakabamba thanked the participant and called upon students on master's degree program in ICT to concentrate on their studies since one of the country's strategies for development includes having competent and quality ICT personnel.
The official from Rwanda Information and Technology Agency (RITA), Moses Bayingana informed the participants that the government is designing ICT projects to improve on the service delivery.
He pointed out new projects like the National identity cards Project which will contain a variety of information and data about the citizen like; civil status, Health and Traffic information (Driving license). Other ICT projects include; the National Telemedicine, Document Tracking, Archiving Workflow Management, Tax Management System and Border Control and Visa issuing projects.
Dr. Pirjo Elovaara from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden defined E-governance as an information age model of governance that seeks to realise processes and structures for harnessing the potentialities of information and communication technologies at various levels of government and the public sector for the purpose of enhancing good governance.
He praised the government of Rwanda for its effort towards the implementation of ICT programme which makes it the world's best countries in rapid adoption of ICT.
In his remark, the director of Rwanda development gateway, Filbert Nsengimana, said that Rwanda gate way was concerned about ICT implementation as the foundation of socio-economic development.
"We need to join the world competition for development, it is evident that many ICT countries have attained recommendable and sustainable development due to improved delivery of services," he said.
Autor(en)/Author(s): Martin Tindiwensi
Quelle/Source: All Africa, 09.10.2006
