‘Electronic Govt to be ready 2013’

Principal Secretary responsible for Electronic Government (e-govt) Olive Chikankheni has said preparations for the implementation of the new e-government system are on track to roll it out in 2013.

She was speaking in Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe, on Monday during the opening of a two-day symposium for ICT officers in the civil service.

Chikankheni said once implemented, the system will reduce expenses government incurs because of the current filing system.

“We expect that all government departments will be connected by 2013. The system will reduce costs of communication and procurement of office stationery for government operations,” she said.

Clerk to the Cabinet in the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) Clement Chinthu Phiri said the e-government system will improve the filing system in the Civil Service which has been manual for a long time.

Chinthu Phiri said sometimes important information is misplaced either on shelves or during transmission from one department to the other or from one office to the other.

“We have big problems with the filing system because there is too much stuff to file. So, sometimes, the shelves are overwhelmed with files and some information is misplaced, but with the electronic system, we are sure that all these issues will be solved,” he said.

Chinthu Phiri said e-government is an important tool in socioeconomic development of every government as it opens a country to the world.

The symposium was held under the theme ‘Reviving the power of ICT in the Civil Service and Towards Achievement of the MGDS’ and was attended by over 400 ICT officers.