. Msiska

By DELPHINE ZULU –
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has moved the functions of e-Government division and ICT to his office in a bid to enhance standardisation and cohesion of systems across the public service.
Mr Lungu said the decision would also lessen the use of papers as well as help curb information leakage and reduce transaction costs while improving productivity.
“Given the importance attached to this measure, I have moved the functions of e- Government and ICT to my office, this is aimed at improved coordination, implementation of ICTs projects, as well as ensuring that services required by citizens and other stakeholders from Government are automated,” he said.
The Head of State directed Ministers and Secretary to the Cabinet Roland Msiska to prioritise the e-Government programmes and engage Microsoft to build innovation centres in order to accelerate sustainable development.
He was speaking yesterday at Lusaka’s InterContinental Hotel when he launched the e-Government Division under the theme ‘Embracing a Transformational Culture for a Smart Zambia’.
Embracing of the e-Government would ultimately reduce corrupt activities associated with human contact as well as ensure standardisation and cohesion of ICTs systems across the public service.
Mr Lungu assured that he would take full ownership of the task at hand and asked the citizens to join him in the process of transforming the way business was conducted.
The President has also instructed the ministries of General and Higher Education to design a strategy that would focus on the use of ICTs across all academic disciplines.
He tasked the e-Government Division to immediately undertake the electronic cabinet among other programmes in order to show commitment and leadership to reforming the rest of the public service towards a Smart Zambia.
Mr Lungu noted that the transformation of the Centralised Computer Service Department (CCSD) into an e-Government Division was one that would help to spearhead the beginning of a well-coordinated implementation of the e-Government.
He said he had come across people in the diaspora who were finding it difficult to make payments to Government on their dues because of lack of automated ICT supporting systems.
The President said there was need to systematically invest  in ICT infrastructure for connectivity to be made available countrywide as the concentration of ICTs access had been largely along the line of rail.
At the same function, Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda said the aim of the country should be to leverage on e-Government to increase productivity and reduce the cost of doing business.
“I am confident that with all these measures put in place, this Government will improve service delivery to its citizens and have enough resources to channel to the needy sectors of the economy,” he said.
Microsoft general manager for Middle East and Africa Saled Hashishi said his organisation would help to increase the country’s ICT in Government offices to enable the country move with technology.