Zanzibar eGovernment Agenda - The April 2012 False Hope
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ZANZIBAR eGOVERNMENT AGENDA THE APRIL 2012 FALSE HOPE
02 January 2012 Abstract
On October 2011 Zanzibar has made a well received world wide announcement that the
country will switch to a full decorated eGovernment system by April 2012 according to
Zanzibar government official1, along with Zanzibar government, departments and
agencies would effective, April 2012 switched to the world new order of delivering
service to citizens and good governance by electronic means. The proclamation went
further in suggesting that this January 2012, Zanzibar eGovernment functionalities will
be tested to make sure everything will be fine by April 2012. Hopeful the declaration was
not meant to be an April Fools joke, since the statement is not conforming to the
acceptable facts, standards, and benchmarks of what is eGovernment according to the
universal interpretation2.
There is so much on a plate to be done for Zanzibar to call it eGovernment. It is a broad
concept, eGovernment is NOT only Tanzania/China soft loan fiber optic backbone, it
includes so many components to flourish and for one to call it eGovernment. Unless
otherwise Zanzibar wants to develop their own interpretation of what is eGovernment,
and take no notice of what is a universal construal of the concept, of which by any
means, standards or benchmarks if Zanzibar opted that way, the scheme will NOT be an
eGovernment initiative which can give full benefits to Zanzibaris, and above all will NOT
be a value for money project, since the Government statement indicates that 20 million
1 DAILY NEWS (Last Updated : 11 October 2011), “Zanzibar to Adopt eGovernment 2012”, (Tanzania - In Ed. by : Ali Sultani) Available at http://www.dailynews.co.tz/business/?n=24431&cat=business (Accessed : 28 November 2011). 2 GILBERT, D. et. al. (2004), “Barriers and Benefits in the Adoption of e-Government”, The International Journal of Public Sector Management, 17, 4, 286-301.
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US dollars will be used for the endeavour, without acceptable standards and
benchmarks on what is eGovernment it will be nothing than a plain white elephant3.
Despite the proclamation contradicting with any eGovernment implementation average
standards and benchmarks, Zanzibar government is yet not to distance itself with the
false hope given to Zanzibaris, in a denotation, and practical government dealings,
meaning the status quo remain the same that Zanzibar will launch what they called
eGovernment scheme by April 2012. But the menace is that, the false hope can be
extended further and further to bring humiliation to the Government for saying things
which are not correct, when the country just started to build a new Zanzibar political
brand and trust between people and the government.
Zanzibar have a tradition for the last 47 years consecutively to commemorate January
revolution, where the President in power used the occasion to give a noble speech, in
which Government visions are set for the next year. It will be a disgrace this January to
drag a country President to extends a false hope in his grand speech about
eGovernment that the contrive will be ready by April 2012. In reality, in comparison with
global eGovernment development index Zanzibar eGovernment scheme is far from
ready by any standards or benchmarks of eGovernment4, whereas we have three month
to go before launching, there will be no magic wand within three months to put what are
required on board for a successful eGovernment scheme, it is a dynamic process that
requires reasonable time, adequate product knowledge of the concept and weighing the
Government initiative with acceptable benchmarks before to call it done.
It is wholly important that Zanzibar officials should avoid dragging the President on this
January 2012 grand speech into extending a false hope about Zanzibar eGovernment
agenda, while practically will not be ready by April 2012, captivating into account the
current government of a national unity solemn undertaking to promote good governance,
which is all about accountability. Giving a false hope to Zanzibaris in such January grand
speech about the readiness of Zanzibar eGovernment initiative it will not be a credible
3 CAROLYNE STANFORTH (2006), “Analysing eGovernment Implementation in Developing Countries Using Actor-Network Theory”, Development Informatics Group, Precinct Centre, UK. 4 KUMAR, V. et. al (2007), “Factors for Successful e-Government Adoption: A Conceptual Framework”, The Electronic Journal of e-Government, 5, 1, 63-77.
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move for the government of a new Zanzibar, which just emerged to build a new political
brand.
Such a false hope on what is not eGovernment will attract disappointing headings in
various eGovernment and Information Systems Management journals and international
forum, by all justifications that will not what Zanzibar wants at this time around on
building a new Zanzibar political brand, a misleading statement from such a grand
speech about eGovernment agenda will damage Zanzibar new political brand and list
inflicted failure in the current global eGovernment development Index, where Tanzania
as a whole hold 137th position behind troubled countries Zimbabwe and Congo
according to the United Nations Global eGovernment Survey 2010, not taking about
Zanzibar who has done little on what are required to be recognised that the country is in
the process of implementing eGovernment scheme.
Global eGovernment Development Index :
Rank Country Index Value
of which Online Service
Components
Telecommunication Infrastructure Component
Human Capacity
Component 129 Zimbabwe 0.3230 0.0432 0.0193 0.2605
135 Congo 0.3019 0.0270 0.0195 0.2555
137 Tanzania 0.2926 0.0594 0.0111 0.2221
Table 1: eGovernment Development Readiness Index and Metrics [United Nations Global eGovernment Survey - 2010]
Zanzibar it could use local techees in hand to exploit the universal interpretation and
models of the eGovernment concept. There are adequate research output available on
shelf from various academic institutions and international bodies, which Zanzibar can
learn a lot to get things right on this concept, the most common one, are eGovernment
Toolkit for Developing Countries published by UNESCO in 2005, the literature contains
principles for successful eGovernment project, another useful literature is eGovernment
Handbook developed by infoDEV Centre for Democracy and Technology in 2002, which
aimed to help developing countries to implement value for money eGovernment
schemes, and those are the universal interpretation of what is eGovernment, not
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Zanzibar approach on this regard, without having a proper development stages on
eGovernment implementation, Zanzibar is heading to a stoppage5.
This paper examined why the launching of what Zanzibar called eGovernment scheme
in April 2012 is a false hope, using global eGovernment development index under the
umbrella of Tanzania in relation to country online service components index,
telecommunications infrastructure component index, human capital component index,
policy and legal framework index, and digital divide index, as the conceptual models
constitute what is called successful eGovernment project, and what inclusively accepted
as standards and benchmarks even by African governments6.
Introduction
What constitutes a successful eGovernment initiative is no longer an alien concept in
times at hand within Zanzibar society. There are many well recognised Zanzibaris in
information systems management profession who can lead, there will be no excuse for
Zanzibar not to have in mind a clear perception of the subject when embarking on the
transformation of government function in the course of electronic means. eGovernment
visualization should be a value for money concept to be successful. An understanding of
various ins and outs involved in the overall gamut of a vigorous process is a pre-
requisite condition, given that eGovernment is the use of Information and
Communication Technologies to promote more efficient and effective government, and
make it more accessible and accountable to the Zanzibaris7. Opting out from well known
standards and benchmarks of what is eGovernment, will have dare consequences to
achieve value for money concept of the initiative for Zanzibar. This is for the reason that
eGovernment has been identified and adopted as one of the most efficient paradigm
shift to promote Government service delivery to its citizens8.
5 The "eGovernment for Development Information Exchange" a coordinated project by the University of Manchester's Institute for Development Policy and Management . The project was initially funded and managed by the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation as part of the UK Department for International Development's "Building Digital Opportunities" programme, 2008 6 AFRICA DEVELOPMENT FORUM IV (2004), “Fourth African Development Forum : Governance for a Progressing Africa”, 11-15th October 2004, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 7 CAROLYNE STANFORTH (2006), “Analysing eGovernment Implementation in Developing Countries Using Actor-Network Theory”, Development Informatics Group, Precinct Centre, UK. 8 NAPOLI, J. et. al (2000), “Factors Affecting the Adoption of the Internet in the Public Sector”, Journal of Nonprofit and Public Sector Marketing, 7, 77-88.
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eGovernment is not merely a matter of equipping Government officials with computers
on their desks, and automating traditional Government function practices. Neither is the
use of blackberry and iPhones by government officials to conduct Government business.
Rather it is the Government automation concept that can bring about greater
effectiveness of functions for Zanzibar government to promote civic participation9.
Focusing exclusively on technological solutions such a Zanzibar fiber optic backbone to
call it eGovernment will not change the frame of mind of bureaucrats who view the
citizen as neither a customer of government nor a represented government stakeholder.
Zanzibar to understand correctly the concept of eGovernment and make use of what it
can offer through existing technology, in addition to accomplish reform for promoting
good governance, government transparency, eliminating social divides by means of
geographical location and accessibilities, and empowering Zanzibaris to participate in
the political course that affect their lives, it will be at that point we can call eGovernment
scheme10.
Developing countries identified different strategies in building eGovernment schemes.
Quantities have developed broad long-term plans. Others have opted to identify just a
few key areas as the focus to start. In all cases, however, the nations identifies as most
successful way of doing that, have begun with formulation of public policy and legal
framework which sets what to achieve through a new mechanisms11. Zanzibar April
2012 launching missed a crucial point in the development process of eGovernment.
eGovernment requires an assortment of legislative changes in recognition of electronic
culture to Zanzibar society, dealing with misuse of data or information, acceptance of
electronic signatures in transaction, electronic archiving, freedom of information, data
protection, prevention of cyber crime, and intellectual property rights protection. Public
policy and legislative changes will also drive the need to introduce efficient and effective
9 CARTER, L. et. al. (2005), “The Utilization of eGovernment Services: Citizen Trust, Innovation and Acceptance Factors”, Information Systems Journal, 15, 1, 5-25. 10 UNITED NATIONS REPORT, (2002), “Benchmarking eGovernment: A Global Perspective”, United Nations Division for Public Economics and Public Administration, New York, 2002. 11 MORTEN GOODWIN (2011), “Towards Automatic Monitoring of eGovernment – PhD Thesis”, Aalborg University, Department of Computer Science, The Faculties of Engineering, Science, and Medicine, 12.08.2011
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electronic services regulatory framework12. Not achieving all this to recognise Zanzibar
fibre optic backbone only as sufficient to call eGovernment, Zanzibar should then, not
serious in receiving what intended by many as the benefit of eGovernment.
Zanzibar eGovernment and Basics The successful implementation of eGovernment desires in the entire process actively
involvement of a cross section of stakeholders, contribution and participation of a key
players13. Since it is a vigorous process requires a number of check and balance during
its development process, it is where key player setting a vital role on feedback.
eGovernment should not be run as solely government property in closed doors, if is to
be aimed in delivering values. The announcement made by the Zanzibar government
official that by April 2012, the country will be ready to switch to eGovernment, takes most
of us on the realm of Information Systems Management career as surprise. In view of
the fact that Zanzibar witness no public consultation to a such radical change of
Government function, no policy frame to be used as benchmark, and no legal provisions
to address specific issues to arise in delivering government services through electronic
platform.
Academic research suggests that there will be no eGovernment initiative no matter how
healthy funded, can stomach value outgrowth unless there is a will to do so by the
political leadership14. The facts stands that it is extremely important that political elite
should be sensitized sufficiently towards the need for electronic governance, and this
can be happen through extensive debate in the house in relation to public policy and
legal framework of eGovernment, a process which didn’t happen in Zanzibar before April
2012 launching. All over suddenly to be told Zanzibar is switching to eGovernment by
then, while there is no public policy, no legal provisions specific to address all
uncertainties out of eGovernment to include fraud of electronic nature, and more
important ethical issues to government employee who will work with the system in 12 PAMELA PHILLIPS (2001), ‘Email Ethics and Etiquette’, Computer Law Association : Managing the Global Digital Information Technology Explosion, Washington DC, May 2001. 13 ROBERT M. DAVISON (2006) "Implementing and Managing Government: By Richard Heeks”, Book Review, The Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries. ISSN: 1681-4835 14 RITA SANTOS et. al. (2009), “Understanding Adoption of eGovernment: Principals, Agents and Institutional Dualism”, Institute for Development Policy and Management, UK
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serving Zanzibaris, as eGovernment scheme also expected to contribute in building a
new political brand for the country of national unity through online virtues.
The switching to eGovernment functionalities also requires most of the government
employees to go hand in hand with the paradigm shift. There was no eGovernment
Impact Assessment to suggest adequate Zanzibar human capacity index for the scheme
and what to be done before April 2012. Also Government departments and agencies at
all levels needs to ensure a perfect backend integration of the system and process for a
smooth and seamless transformation of the government functions to a digital state15.
However, it is not known who knows what amongst government employees and to what
level, so a training scheme can be design to take all on board to serve Zanzibaris better
in a new virtual environment, only to learn that Zanzibar will switch to eGovernment by
April 2012. The digital working life awareness amongst government employees and their
willingness to cuddle change counted to play a key role in the success and value for
money initiative16, Zanzibar could not see the need for adequate plan and stakeholder
involvement before April 2012 launching.
Public policy framework and IT laws are precondition principles for the success of an
eGovernment undertaking, being a rule of law society Zanzibar should assumed
paramount importance on this regard. The key beneficiaries of the radical change are
Zanzibar general public, through representation supposed to be consulted, as they are
the ones to expect a convenient delivery of online information and services from the
government, and they are the one should contribute effectively to the process of policy
making to this effect. In view of making eGovernment scheme as the property of
government, the changes will only benefit those who live in urban centres of Zanzibar
and those who can afford to own digital devices, or the scheme will only be for emails
exchange from one government department to another and not for public consumption,
this is where the concerns about the scheme to be a white elephant comes in.
15 DELOITTE RESEARCH (2000), “At the Dawn of e-Government: The Citizen as Customer” Public Sector Institute, Deloitte Consulting LLC, ISBN 1-892383-58-6. 16 OECD (2003), “The eGovernment Imperative: Main Findings”, Policy Brief, Public Affairs Division, Public Affairs and Communications Directorate, OECD, 2003
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Zanzibar understanding of the level of digital working life literacy and human capacity in
is an important aspect to ensure effective delivery, as well as equitable access of
electronic delivery of government services. Research reveals two distinct aspects when
it comes to capacity building, the IT skills and capacity within the government, and the IT
literacy and capacity of the common citizens, and this can be easily realised through
eGovernment Impact Assessment through a well defined assessment model, but the
government statement to switch to eGovernment by April 2012 came before the Impact
Assessment., which to results policy framework.
Zanzibar to embark on what was called eGovernment by April 2012 without public policy
framework, it is obviously the initiative will miss vital issues in implementation, and
therefore could lead in creation of a fresh division amongst Zanzibar society groups17.
Some cross section of the society will be left disenfranchised in the course of the country
adopting electronic culture, the policy framework should be in place to bridge the gap of
digital divide, as well Zanzibar should have a policy to empower those disadvantage
groups to go hand in hand with the rest and fully benefit from eGovernment initiative18. In
many countries, online contents played as barrier too, and must be provided in more
than one language or dialect to meet the needs of local community, in that case the
public policy framework should tackle the barriers as well address the needs of those
who are illiterate.
Digital divide within Zanzibar society is a real threat for the successful eGovernment
scheme, it is a gap between Zanzibaris who have the means and access to the Internet
and those who do not. Fibre Optic backbone could be all over Zanzibar, but the means
to connect to the backbone it will be a problem to many, Those without access cannot be
left behind since eGovernment should be a scheme for all, access to information that
can provide social and economic opportunities is a universal right, all Zanzibaris should
receive their share of the benefits of eGovernment19. It will be the public policy to deal
with this which is not in place before April 2012 launching.
17 THE GUARDIAN (2000), “‘Queen Elizabeth Urges Modern Communication for All”, In: By Guardian Reporter, (ed) The Guardian News paper, March 14 2000, Dar es Salaam Tanzania. pp. 3 18 CARVIN, A. (2000) ‘More Than Just Access – Fitting Literacy and Content Into the Digital Divide Equation’, Educause Review, November-December 2000, pp. 38–47 19 MATHIAS KLANG, et. al. (2005), “Human Rights in Digital Age”, Routledge, United Kingdom.
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Even in areas of Zanzibar where access to Fibre Optic backbone is nearly ubiquitous,
there will be still marginalised citizen who are unable to make full use of information and
communication technologies because they are not ‘e-literate.’ The policy framework will
have to establish special steps to include people who are not e-literate. Despite
eGovernment potentials, it has been recognised from the outset of the digital revolution
that there is a real danger that the society we live in will be divided into the “information
rich” and the “information poor”20. eGovernment as digital platform can either equalising
access to government information and its services or can denied Zanzibaris new
universal right, it will be the policy framework and legal provisions to address the
problem not Fibre Optic rollover.
At this point Zanzibar supposed to make its choice clear before April 2012 on what was
called eGovernment launching. Those who have got the means of access to the Fibre
Optic backbone should not be the only ones who will benefit from eGovernment. Such a
disparity will not promote good governance through eGovernment instead will increase
social and economic injustice which Zanzibar strive to minimize as a legacy of 1964
revolution, and which eGovernment universal interpretation is meant to be, increasing
civic participation and government openness.
Zanzibar eGovernment and New Political Brand
It is just a year now since Zanzibar get on to a radical political change which builds trust
between people belongs to a different political affiliation, and between people and
government of a national unity. There were a lot of distrust among Zanzibaris and the
government, ranging from obtaining Zanzibar residents ID to voting registration, and
many more.
The announcement to switch to eGovernment by April 2012 came before Zanzibaris
being prepared and sensitized with the new ways of getting government services, in a
such a situation where Zanzibar it is just on its infants stage of transformation in building
trust between people and between people and government under government of
national unity, what assurance the Government is sending out for the people to embrace 20 A/HRC/17/27 A United Nations report released on 16 March 2001declares Internet access a human right. Presented to the General Assembly, the report by UN Special Rapporteur Frank La Rue states that, “the Internet has become a key means by which individuals can exercise their right to freedom and expression.”
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and trust eGovernment scheme to benefit fully, since the scheme it got no instrument in
public for fairness and accountability such as public policy or legal provisions.
Zanzibar eGovernment in order to be listed as successful project to promote good
governance and contribute in building new Zanzibar political brand, there should a
specific legal provision to give Zanzibar general public a confidence to the new system
of relationship between government and citizen by virtual means.
Zanzibar when conceptualising eGovernment and made an announcement, the officials
were not realised the needs to address the boundaries of eGovernment implementation
both physical and administrative before April 2012, that the proposed venture will cross.
The success use of eGovernment customarily comes in building trust and common
understanding among players in the early stage of the progression. Almost every
successful eGovernment project is a case in point to build trust on online service mainly
privacy and security.
Privacy is one of the most important issues Zanzibar eGovernment would facing when
connected to citizen through virtual means. Government must be responsible custodian
to secure enormous amounts of personal information they will hold in the course of
online interaction with Zanzibaris, and that responsibility needs to be imposed to the
Government by legal provision, which also will set remedy when Government employees
misuse the system and caused harm to member of general public.
When eGovernment services breed in scope and popularity among Zanzibaris, personal
information storage will get bigger in size and detail. Protecting the privacy of citizens’
personal information stored while Government making effective use of the information is
a fundamentally key issue, one which policy framework could address to result specific
legislation, if the citizens are to entrust giving out information of sensitive nature, such
one can reveal personal identity, financial obligations or medical history, in the event of
using the system.
The trust in citizen privacy would have to be addressed technically in the planning and
design of eGovernment systems as well as in policy and legal frame work, since it is
much harder to exclaim privacy protections after a system is built, if the policy will be
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formulated after the system being launched, it will increase the cost of implementation to
change system requirements to meet policy and legal obligations, all this indicates which
come first. eGovernment scheme should fully comply with the citizen fundamental
rights21.
Security issues is another costly component in any eGovernment initiative,
uncompromised system security gives the scheme credibility and integrity, in the wake of
online criminals selling personal information for online marketing, and costly cyber
attacks to countries economy. A separate cyber crime strategy supposed to be in place
before embarking on eGovernment to protect the 20 million US dollars investment to this
project. But a robust strategy achieved through public consultation, no one in Zanzibar IT
industry can remember this happened. Security breaches can shatter public trust in
eGovernment scheme. System and data security is a vitally important component on
eGovernment projects which needs to be dealt with various approaches, technology,
public policy, legal framework, and human capacity22. eGovernment system will not be
like Zanzibar ID system which is total isolated, eGovernment is an embedded system
linked with outside world, and is therefore vulnerable to attacked from outside Zanzibar.
The security measures should be robust enough in this world of cyber attack, since the
eGovernment system will be connected to outside world. Therefore Zanzibaris to have a
confidence about the scheme, security measures of their part should made available to
public to know on what to expect when their personal data collected, and that can be
achieved through a legal framework. Zanzibar would need a legislation namely Data
Protection Act, before April 2012, which will set up legal responsibilities on the side of
government and its employees working on the scheme on how personal data collected,
and should be protected when they are using the system. But the launching will come
before policy framework and even data protection legislation.
21 URT CONSTITUTION (1984 as amended), ‘Every person is entitled to respect and protection of his person, the privacy of his own person, his family and of his matrimonial life, and respect and protection of his residence and private communications’, Article 16(1), Dodoma, 1994 22 BENJAMIN, P. (2001), “Community Development and Democratisation Through Information Technology: Building the New South Africa'; in Reinventing Government in the Information Age , R.B. Heeks (ed.), Routledge, London, 194-210.
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Zanzibar eGovernment Public Policy and Legal Framework
Zanzibar eGovernment scheme may encounter policy or legal barriers on its
implementation process since our legal framework was not meant for electronic life,
Zanzibar supposed to update its legal framework to suit the demand of electronic life
before the launching of the so called eGovernment by April 2012. Government must
ensure that laws are updated to recognize electronic documents and transactions on
court evidence procedure, unfortunately it didn’t happen, and will not happen before April
2012, as the Government when it comes to the management of eGovernment scheme
must take proactive steps to ensure that public policies and legal framework in place
support rather than impede eGovernment process for prosper23. eGovernment requires
well defined regulatory framework and legal measures as an essential means for
success.
Before implementing eGovernment Zanzibar could have to consider the impact of legal
framework and public policy to the scheme effectiveness. Otherwise, initiative will well
expected to encounter significant problems in due process as the current legal
framework will not meet the demand of online culture. The effort could have incorporated
a holistic view, one that is not just focused on Fibre Optic backbone as the whole thing
about Zanzibar eGovernment agenda24.
Ancient laws, old regulatory regimes, overlapping and conflicting establishment can all
greatly complicate altogether or halt a development success, which could have been
looked before jumping to launching in April 2012. Legal reforms and new policy
directives may have to be adopted by Zanzibaris before April 2012 for eGovernment to
function smoothly25. In doing that the Government could have in consult with
stakeholders through public consultation to assess how existing laws may impede the
desired results, since the eGovernment scheme are not Government property, it is a
scheme to engage citizen in good governance process for the Government.
23 DR. ALAN F. WESTIN, Professor of Public Law and Government : Columbia University (1996), ‘Privacy and American Business’, In : Testimony, Before the House Banking and Financial Services Committee, Domestic and International Monetary Policy Subcommittee, Federal News Service, June 11, 1996, Available in LEXIS : Nexis Library. 24 UNITED NATIONS, (1948), ‘Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted and proclaimed by General Assembly Resolution 217 A (III)’, December 10, 1948. 25 RICHARD HEEKS (1998), “Information Technology and Public Sector Corruption”, IDPM, University of Manchester, September 1998, UK.
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Zanzibar to have eGovernment scheme in principle has two dimensions in using
information and communication technology applications. One is the use of application of
information technology for the enhancement of Government administration process.
Secondly is the use of application of information technology for the Government
governance to the emerging Zanzibar cyber society26. Generally conflicts and issues in
eGovernment scheme implementation arise because of the country inability to merge the
traditional society and the cyber society with overlapping jurisdiction. It is then Zanzibar
will realise they could have the need for defining comprehensive ICT policies, legislation
and regulatory framework to facilitate effective eGovernment application to the process
of governance, delivery of citizen services, prevention of cyber crime, and above all to
keep Zanzibar safe from electronically invasion27.
Conclusion It is very important when Zanzibar adopt universal development norms such as
eGovernment scheme to put forward professionalism as driving force, politicisation of
the concept will have severe effects on the success, surely Zanzibar don’t want
eGovernment as a show case, it should be a vehicles for government dealings in a
transparency and engaging citizens decision making.
Development indexes shown Zanzibar has a higher propensity to indigenous culture
which are full of inefficiencies, a lot of red tape in public service delivery, and prone to
corrupt and inefficient practices. The adoption of eGovernment was a right move to
promise a sharp paradigm shift where public institutions will be more responsive and
transparent, promote efficient Public Private Partnerships (PPP) and Open Government
Initiative (OGI), while empower Zanzibaris by making knowledge and other resources
more directly accessible to them through technology, but all this have to be done
properly to avoid giving false hope. The way this issue of eGovernment has been
handled with all benchmarks we can choose it will offer failures to an unprecedented
degree and miss management of country resources. We are not belatedly far, lets put
things right to leapfrog our social and economic problems in a legitimately way, and not
26 BUTCHER, N. (1998), ‘The Possibilities and Pitfalls of Harnessing ICTs to Accelerate Social Development : A South African Perspective’, SAID TALERO, E. E, April 1998, Johannesburg 27 GIDDENS, ANTHONY (1990),’The Consequences of Modernity’, Polity Press, 1990, Cambridge.
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by giving false hope. It can be done as happen to be commented by Zanzibar founding
father if everyone can take serious.
African governments have understood and appreciated the contribution of eGovernment
to their governments’ agenda. Zanzibar needs to initiate a strategic plan as it has been
seen in Egypt, Senegal, Mozambique, South Africa and Kenya in relation to
eGovernment. As a claim cannot be made that all of African governments have
understood how to implement eGovernment, a handful of them have accepted the notion
of eGovernment and recognise that this concept has come to stay and therefore needs
to be done in a professional way if Africa were to compete favourably in global digital
economic value chains. Zanzibar cannot be excluded from this paradigm shift of
eGovernment by inducing its own failure to the process. eGovernment is sustainable
choice to be made, as recognised and substantiated by the communiqué which was
released by the 4th African Development Forum in 2004.
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