Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
GOVERNMENT has ordered ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to urgently integrate their digital systems and end fragmented ICT procurement practices as part of efforts to accelerate the country’s digital transformation agenda.
Speaking at the inaugural ICT Directors Workshop in Kariba last week, Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services Tatenda Mavetera said siloed systems, duplication of infrastructure and uncoordinated ICT purchases were undermining efficiency and increasing costs in Government.
The workshop was held under the theme: “Charting a Coherent Roadmap for Digital Government.”
Minister Mavetera said Government was now moving towards a fully integrated smart system anchored on interoperability, harmonised procurement, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
“My first charge to you, directors, is to tear down the walls. Let us be honest: we suffer from silo syndrome. Systems that cannot talk to each other, forcing a citizen to provide the same birth affidavit six times to six different departments,” she said.
Minister Mavetera said Government would implement a Government Service Bus to enable secure sharing of data among institutions.
“Data is a national asset, not a departmental trophy,” she said.
The minister said Government would also immediately operationalise a Whole-of-Government Harmonised ICT Procurement Framework to curb wasteful spending and ensure compatibility of systems across MDAs.
“One ministry buys laptops at three times the price of another. We purchase different, incompatible software for the same basic functions. This is a haemorrhage of public funds, and it stops today,” she said.
Minister Mavetera said no major ICT procurement would proceed without central oversight to check duplication and ensure value for money.
She said cyber threats posed a serious risk to national security as Government digitises key services and databases.
“A cyber-attack on a ministry database is no longer a simple IT incident; it is an attack on the Republic itself,” she said.
Minister Mavetera called for the establishment of a Sectoral Cybersecurity Response Centre within the e-Government Unit to strengthen the protection of Government systems.
On artificial intelligence (AI), the Minister announced plans for a national AI Skills Accelerator Programme targeting public sector workers in partnership with universities and the e-Government Unit.
“AI skills training is not an option; it is a strategic national priority,” she said.
Minister Mavetera said Zimbabwe’s internet penetration had risen from 82,87 percent to 84,55 percent, while broadband penetration increased from 80,58 percent to 82,63 percent.
She said Government has deployed 47 additional 5G base stations, bringing the national total to 366.
The minister said Government was also working on new legislation, including a proposed Digital Government and Data Act, which would make interoperability mandatory across all MDAs and prohibit departments from repeatedly requesting information already held by other Government institutions.
“We have the policies. We have the infrastructure. We have the skills programmes. What remains is disciplined implementation,” she said.
