If you ask any civil servant in Zambia about the mode of conducting business, chances are that the answer will be apt and to the point - electronic medium.
Long gone are the days when everything had to be filed in larger than life paper folders because today, almost all the information is stored on the computers, at least in most Government offices.
This trend of electronic device use to store information is what in simple terms can be defined as electronic governance or e-governance.
E-governance is a digitalisation of government service delivery mechanisms. This has its own advantages which include simplicity of service delivery, morality and integrity in the public sector as well as accountability, responsiveness and transparency in the discharge of public goods and services.
It is a concept just being conceived in Zambia among local councils that are to the larger extent using microsoft word for documents and basic planning tasks using excel.
Zambia has an information communication and technology (ICT) thematic group that had called for a national coordinating agency and adoption of the national ICT policy.
The group insists on auditing of ICT infrastructure and development of ignition points, as some of the key priorities to be included in National Development Plan (NDP). It is supported by OneWorld Africa.
Fortunately, under the ministry of Education, there is a project of setting up teacher resources centres countrywide. Currently, there are 700 of such centres operating.
But the growth of e-governance depends on effective coordination, real and universal access to ICTS by creating in-civil service with skills that will improve the capacity. Affordability and appropriateness is another factor that should be put in place.
Information Deputy Permanent Secretary David Mulemwa says a number of internal problems have made it difficult to facilitate certain activities even though his ministry was key in the process of ICT policy formulation.
It has been Government policy to take up the lead in all aspects of policy on ICT as well as to ensure participation of the people at all levels.
Former Panos Southern Africa director associate professor Fackson Banda believes that the benefits of e-governance are immense. Once harnessed properly, e-governance can help in de-bureaucratisation and simplification of government processes and procedures.
He explains that the enhanced use internet services would ensure that many Zambians engage in local politics and participate in the running of day to day businesses such as the provisions of public services like renewals of passports, voting, investment opportunities and visa applications.
Richard Mwanza from the Communications Authority acknowledges that in terms of full ICT application, Zambia is yet to make a mark.
It will also help reinforce the culture of information free flow between the governed and the Government. Modern information and communication applications, especially pilot web and multi-media-based governance applications have been developed and tested in the cooperating municipalities and there is now an electronic provision of information to the public.
Currently, there is a municipal public information centre (hotline) and a presence of at least one trained network administrator in all municipalities.
It is envisaged, however, that technology would help further public opinion on local authorities in the information era. The LCC e-governance project was conceived with the support of United Nations Education Science and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) as part of the global pursuit to promote efficient and transparent governance in Zambia.
The project stated in 2001 and was to be implemented in two main phases. The first phase involved the creation of basic ICT infrastructure within the civic centre, looking at local area networks and the internet.
The second phase was an expansion of the network to extend to city wards (grassroots levels). Previously, service delivery roles and responsibilities of the local councils were being affected by inadequate funding and lack of institutional infrastructure.
The application of ICTs can also enhance agricultural productivity, health, civic education and communication.
But whatever people might say over the potential benefits of e-governance, the whole key lies in the speedy legislation and implementation of the ICT policy which is still under Cabinet scrutiny.
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