Digital solutions key to financial inclusion

14

DIGITAL solutions hold the key to achieving financial inclusion, which is critical for the country’s ambition of becoming an upper middle-income economy by 2030, Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa has said.
Speaking after a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Mutsvangwa said ICT minister Jenfan Muswere had updated Cabinet on technology-based interventions which the government, through the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe, was implementing to attain a digital economy as enunciated in the economic blueprint, the National Development Strategy 1.

“… digitisation of systems is targeted at eliminating corruption at institutions through reduction of human interface as well as advancing the country’s ease of doing business programme. All costs will be borne by the government. In line with the government’s digitisation programme…,” she said.

Mutsvangwa further said that the Cabinet had noted the initiatives relating to digitisation of the judiciary, police, prisons and correctional services, which will ensure security of information, dockets, law and order as well as efficient delivery of justice services.
“Interventions for this to succeed include provision of gadgets and connectivity to rural police stations as part of the implementation of the ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage’s Integrated Management System. Focus will be on smart policing which involves the movement of dockets from the police to the courts system and finally the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS).

“In addition, the stations will have their bandwidth subscription for 12 months paid for in full. The initiative will also see the Zimbabwe Republic Police, local authorities and other security services being connected to the Smart Transport and Traffic Management System,” Mutsvangwa said.
Prior to digital solutions, funds would find their way into outlying towns and villages through the use of undocumented and unquantifiable means.

The digitisation will enable easy identification and follow up of traffic offenders and their sanctioning.
Mutsvangwa said the pilot study has already been completed.

“Under the digitisation of the Judiciary, judicial officers are being trained in preparation for the launch of the Integrated Electronic Case Management System which is set for next year.

“The system will bring together the prisons, community corrections, courts services and other related agencies to more efficiently provide justice through digital means.
“In addition the government, in partnership with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), is in the process of establishing virtual courts,” she said.
The project will result in the installation and use of a video conferencing system at all court complexes and prisons.

It will also result in the provision of desktop computers and accessories to ZPCS and JSC as well as the digitisation of the National Prosecution Authority, the Attorney-General’s office and the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission.

Presenting the 2022 national budget statement, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube said the government will improve on its ICT procurement and management framework to guide the use and procurement of ICT services across government departments next year.
“This is more so, given new developments under the Digital Economy Agenda and Covid-19 ‘new normal’. The review is also meant to curb procurement of substandard, incompatible and counterfeit equipment which compromise on value for money and economies of scale.
“Emphasis will also be on improving coverage and access to broadband infrastructure and the associated last-mile network services, deployment and installation of smart e-government systems, digital migration project, as well as further ensuring access of services in marginalised communities,” Ncube said.

He said the government was seeking to establish an International Call Termination Centre in partnership with the private sector.
Ncube allocated $3,3 billion to the ICT ministry.
newsdesk@fingaz.co.zw