The reliance on this technology is best demonstrated in times of disasters, even minor disasters like power blackouts, where work at shops and offices stops abruptly.
However, these minor hiccups have not stopped the shift towards automating government services the world over. Only a few weeks ago, the Namibian government announced that it had promulgated an e-service policy. Three years ago, South Africa promulgated an e-commerce act (dubbed the electronic and communication transactions act) whose objective (among others) is to “maximise the benefits of internet offers by promoting universal access in under serviced areas and ensuring that the special needs of particular communities, areas and the disabled are taken into account” (South Africa’s ECT Act 2002). The Act has also helped to provide legal certainty in such things as the admissibility of computer evidence in court and providing provisions on cyber crime and has assisted in accommodating electronic transactions and data messages in the normal administration of government.
While Botswana is making strides towards this end with e-readiness studies currently being conducted, the question that must be asked is whether the ground is ready for this impending change. Only recently, London went through the horror of terrorist attacks that have been internationally condemned. Within a few days, however, the administrative efficiency of the security forces became apparent when evidence collected and analysed in the various scenes led to raids in different homes in parts of Leeds and the identification of at least three of the four bombers.
What is not apparent to many people is the fact that between the time of the attacks and the collated evidence, security forces relied upon efficient information systems including closed circuit footage, databases with citizen information, transport system records and surveillance information in order to piece together the events surrounding the attacks. Without these efficient systems, all the evidence collected would be nothing more than unrelated dots. Without proper records and information systems, the dots would never have been connected.
Unfortunately, for the most part, the information age has been viewed as merely the introduction of technology to assist existing systems rather than the re-engineering of existing systems and the appropriate use of technology in order to optimize production or service delivery. In other words, using the example of London, while it is relatively easy to install close circuit cameras in many cities around the world, it is much harder to actually have information systems that will support the exploitation of the information collected in order to bolster security or connect the dots.
If the move towards appropriate use of technology through e-governance is seen as seeking to enhance both internal and external governmental relationships in order to support economic development and encourage the fair and efficient delivery of services, then we should probably put as much, if not more emphasis on bolstering appropriate records and information systems.
It is also essential to re-examine the legal and regulatory environment within which the technology operates. It may be necessary to formulate new laws to address the shortcomings of existing ones, something demonstrated recently in a court case in Kenya against several suspects accused of planning terrorist attacks in Mombasa. Among the reasons for their acquittal was the fact that the phone records produced by the prosecutors were not admissible in court, which is clearly a result of a lack of supporting information systems to “connect the dots”.
Shadrack Katuu
By email
