Online Reporter
Bheki Ndlovu
IN Africa today, the call for governments to reinvent themselves through digital transformation has become impossible to ignore.
Citizens want institutions that are as efficient as the private sector, with services delivered quickly, transparently, and with minimal bureaucracy.
Zimbabwe, through its Vision 2030 agenda, has publicly committed to creating a modern, digital-first government capable of delivering to its people.
It is against this backdrop that the work of Alexsandra Ogadimma Ihechere, an experienced Nigerian researcher, takes on special significance for Zimbabwe.
She recently co-authored a paper published in the Computer Science & IT Research Journal titled “Achieving digital transformation in public sector organizations: The impact and solutions of SAP implementations.” This study explores how enterprise solutions such as SAP (Systems, Applications, and Products) can be harnessed by public institutions to drive efficiency, transparency, and citizen satisfaction. While the scholarship is rooted in Nigeria’s context, its findings are universal and for Zimbabwe, they are especially timely.
Alexsandra believeS that the future of governance in Africa lies in the ability to integrate technology into service delivery.
“SAP provides the backbone for that integration. It allows governments to break down silos, to process information in real time, and most importantly, to respond to citizens without the bottlenecks of manual bureaucracy. For me, it was important to show that this is not just a corporate solution but a governance tool,” she said.
Her conviction is not abstract; it is grounded in years of examining how inefficiencies in African bureaucracies hold back development.
Her study emphasises that SAP systems can transform public institutions in several critical ways. By automating revenue collection, governments can expand compliance and reduce leakages.
By digitising procurement, they can improve transparency and reduce corruption. By integrating civil registries, they can ensure that citizens receive services such as passports, birth certificates, and social benefits with speed and reliability.
These insights resonate strongly with Zimbabwe’s own reforms.
“Zimbabwe has already taken steps with platforms like ZIMRA e-tax and e-passport applications, but scaling them into a fully integrated ecosystem is what will deliver Vision 2030. The technology is available; what is needed is the right policy commitment, investment, and training,” she said.
“Transformation is never easy,” she admitted. “One of the most common challenges is resistance from within. People are often more comfortable with old processes, even if they are inefficient, because change brings fear of the unknown. That is why training, communication, and phased deployment are so important. We cannot expect institutions to leap into full digitalization overnight. It must be planned, gradual, and inclusive.”
In her paper, she and her co-authors recommend practical solutions such as phased rollouts, capacity-building programs for public servants, and the adoption of cloud-based SAP solutions that reduce upfront infrastructure costs.
Asked how she views Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 digitalization drive, Alexsandra said:
“I admire the ambition,” she said. “It shows a country that understands the link between governance and economic development. But ambition must be matched by execution. What I would stress for Zimbabwe is the importance of scaling initiatives beyond pilots. Too often across Africa we see promising e-government projects that remain at the pilot stage. Citizens lose confidence if systems are unreliable or only work in certain areas. Vision 2030 requires consistency, reliability, and national coverage.”
Her Nigerian background also gives her a comparative lens. She is not an external observer prescribing foreign models but an African expert who understands the continent’s unique constraints and opportunities.
The data also supports her call for urgency. A 2023 African Union study found that while 60 percent of African countries have adopted digital governance strategies, fewer than 30 percent have fully scaled them into national systems.
In Zimbabwe, less than 40 percent of government transactions are digitized, compared to more than 70 percent in Rwanda.
The gap is wide, but Alexsandra argues that it is bridgeable. “Zimbabwe has the advantage of learning from countries that have gone ahead. Rwanda, Kenya, even elements from South Africa—they all show what works and what doesn’t. With the right partnerships and the political will, Zimbabwe can close this gap faster than people think.”
Her voice also carries mentoring lessons for Zimbabwean professionals and researchers. She emphasises the importance of scholarship that is both rigorous and practical. “Too often, research in Africa ends up sitting in libraries, disconnected from policy,” she noted. “I believe that our work must speak to the realities of citizens and policymakers. That is why I always ask: who benefits from this research, and how? If the answer does not include the ordinary citizen, then we have missed the point.” For Zimbabwean academics, this reminder is critical: research must bridge the gap between theory and practice.
Alexsandra also provides inspiration as a Nigerian woman working in a field often dominated by men. “For me, it has always been about showing that expertise has no gender,” she said. “I want young women across Africa, including Zimbabwe, to know that their voices are needed in technology and governance. We cannot afford to leave half the population out of the conversation when the future of governance is at stake.” Her words ring powerfully in a Zimbabwean context, where women remain underrepresented in both ICT and governance leadership.
Her scholarship is not only a blueprint for Zimbabwe’s digital reforms but also a reminder of the broader continental agenda. As Africa seeks to industrialize, attract investment, and empower its citizens, efficient governance is the bedrock upon which development will rest. Digital transformation is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity. Alexsandra’s research demonstrates that systems like SAP can be part of the solution, offering governments the tools to manage resources transparently, serve citizens effectively, and restore public trust.
As Zimbabwe advances toward Vision 2030, Technology must be seen as a governance tool, not just an IT investment. Research must be translated into practice that improves the lives of citizens. Alexsandra’s career embodies these principles. Her words and her work remind us that the digital future of governance in Africa will be shaped by African experts committed to solving Africa’s challenges with African-informed solutions.
