By Michael J. Dalali
Searching for information on Tanzanian government websites is such a hectic exercise that one will end up in frustration. But how is that possible with a good number of well trained ICT experts from a growing number of universities and colleges the government has at its disposal? How is that possible with staff who get paid to work on keeping the information active through the channels?
It doesn’t matter what the rank or reputation of an institution is, a good number of public institutions still face the problem of effective and efficient running of their channels of information through the newly innovated means of electronic systems, the websites to mention but a few.
This is so unlucky as different governments now embark on systems that allow flow of information to the public with active usage of online ways such as websites.
We saw it in the past few months when the Kenyan government launched their “open government” hub to all governmental information. It is a unique initiative to enable citizens and any interested actor with information to easily access it without any hitches.
And we can’t forget how some African countries have embraced the idea of “open data” from the United States of America, even though they do little in their mother countries. I believe, they could at least do this even without an external stimulus.
Of course I understand there is crucial information that cannot be released over online channels due to their sensitivity like information which has to do with national security.
Most people are interested in having easy access to normal information to simplify workings of different actors such as researchers, academicians and students.
I normally don’t understand why we don’t have information such as reports, speeches, policies, and any other government documents online if at all they were initially produced in soft copy to go for printing. Why didn’t they upload the soft copy to the respected government website after launching or having the hard copy?
You would be surprised, for example; there is no soft copy of the National Youth Policy of 2007 as a more recent youth policy in the country even after four years of its production and three years of its official launching.
You also cannot find ministerial budget speeches on their respective ministry websites even after being presented to the parliament. Just try to search and one can tell how many ministries and government departments have uploaded their budget speeches that touch their operations, simply very few of them!
It should be noted that, not everyone can access the hard copies of different government documents due to obvious reasons.
But with the era of protecting the environment and the need to minimize printed documents and opt for online usage of documents; this should also be a government practice.
I just remember one analytical cartoon by a popular cartoonist known as Masoud Kipanya (KP); that being in e-government doesn’t mean to open up accounts in social networks such as Facebook and Twitter (as more of our leaders have done lately)! But something more has to be done. Really our government and all its parastatals have to do more and more.
It is high time now to see live and active governmental and parastatals websites with enough and accessible information. It is time to see the brains of innovation in the area.
We should not forget that with easy accessibility of all needed information, the public not only will enable us to score some marks when it comes to international indexes especially the ones to do with transparency and good governance, but it will be good for our own growth in all dimensions as it will simplify works to our researchers, journalists, academicians, students – you name it – in their day to day work.
And this shouldn’t be a call to the government and its parastatals only, but also to all institutions in the country to try as much as possible to supply necessary information to the public.
Michael Dalali is an activist, analyst, and a social development consultant based in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania. He can be reached at michael (at) michaeldalali (dot) com. Other posts by Michael on Vijana FM include:
Good article on something I have been thinking about for a while.
Technology and in this case we are talking about software technology is expensive. The initial idea of creating an e-government is easier than the commitment that follows. You need well trained software engineers. You need to bring their knowledge together with that of various experts within the government: historians, politicians, and so on. The combination of all these is expensive.
Now that we desire an e-government we must not forget that after that initial thing, comes maintenance. I worry about this. Maintenance takes years, and calls for a genuine commitment. No rush.
So that’s just on the warning side.
E-government is just one thing. The next thing that I have been contemplating about is titled “Documenting Tanzania” – or with an even fancier name for a similar goal – you choose.
The truth is, computer scientists are available. Everywhere. And can commit themselves to such activities but we need a committed body – a body that wants to see things done. That’s all.
Very interesting post. And timely too, as the government has just committed to joining the Open Government Partnership, an international initiative promoting transparency. See the two posts linked below for more details on this, and discussion on what the open government priorities for Tanzania should be – including e-government:
http://blog.daraja.org/2011/10/open-government-in-tanzania-what-are.html
http://blog.daraja.org/2011/09/tanzania-and-open-government.html
Thanks Ben for those two articles!!
Asante sana.
Ben,
Thanks for reading it and sharing the other information you have.
Yes indeed the government has joined the move, but we must encourage other government, parastatals and all its agencies to have live and active sites with full of information.
The ICT personnels at the institutions should even think to go beyond what is in their plates.
Bihemo,
Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts.
I am touched by “commitment” and “committed body”-these actually are the agent of the changes, with them can push things to act in different manner.
Documentation especially e-documentation is still a huge challenge, that can even make one see that it isn’t government priority.
To archive e-government, computer revolution in Tanzania must not be integrated with our selfish politics. how can we start e-government before establishing CERT TZ (COMPUTER EMERGENCE RESPONSE TEAM IN TANZANIA)?. I suggest to start with this before e-government otherwise we will regret this revolution.
The concept of electronic government in LDCs and Tanzania in particular is more political than ever. Thus it is just an Ideal. Ask your self the following questions by taking one LGA or Rs or GA
1. How many number of PCs are there in each departments? of which brand?or model? who are the users? what are their qualifications?
2. How many software s which are installed in the Rs, LGAs,or the GAs?
3. What amount of budget is allocated for the implementation of E-
government in each MD As, LGAs etc?
4.Are there enough computer experts? How about the security service of the software being installed?
E- government in Tanzania to, me I see it is an umbrella term which is difficult to be realized in totality.