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In a digital age where accessibility to government services online is vital, several government websites have been facing significant downtime, raising concerns about the ease of doing business in Zimbabwe. These websites are essential for a range of services, including business registration, tax filing, access to legal documents, and public records. Their unavailability is not only frustrating for citizens but is also seen as undermining the country's business environment and investor confidence.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently expressed his dissatisfaction with the state of government websites, emphasizing the need for better communication from ministries. During a Cabinet meeting on December 19, he addressed the challenges posed by outdated and poorly maintained websites, calling for greater efforts to ensure their functionality.
"It is a misnomer that with the abundant ICT skills and capacities among young people, our government has only a few functional and up-to-date ministry websites. More should be done to improve this situation," President Mnangagwa said. He added that the failure to regularly update ministry websites creates a communication gap that hinders investment and business operations.
The Government's Internet Service Provider (GISP), responsible for hosting official websites under the www.zim.gov.zw domain, is currently facing an outage. The duration of the downtime remains unclear, but it is affecting access to many government websites, including those of various ministries, departments, and parastatals.
While some ministries have opted to host their own websites, many of these remain inadequately updated. Of the 25 ministries, only 12 have fully functional websites, with the remaining websites either down or rarely updated. Some ministries have taken it upon themselves to host individual websites to ensure the continuity of services, but these too suffer from inconsistent updates.
Notably, the newly established Ministry of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle has yet to launch a website, further highlighting gaps in digital accessibility.
However, several parastatals and government agencies have maintained functional and up-to-date websites, with the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) standing out as an example. ZIDA's website is regularly updated, offering clear and comprehensive information aimed at attracting investors. According to ZIDA's Corporate Affairs Manager, Ms. Judith Mbetu, effective communication is critical for positioning Zimbabwe as an attractive investment destination.
"For investors, clarity, consistency, and accessibility of information are essential to mitigate risks and expedite decision-making processes. ZIDA's interactive website and digital engagement platforms ensure investors receive timely and accurate information," she said, adding that an up-to-date online presence is crucial in a competitive global market.
Minister of Information, Communication Technology, Postal, and Courier Services, Tatenda Mavetera, acknowledged the issues with government websites and confirmed that her ministry is collaborating with GISP to address the situation. She emphasized that while her ministry is not directly responsible for hosting the websites, they are working towards improving the hosting infrastructure and enhancing communication systems.
"We are working closely with GISP to improve the hosting of government services online, and we are also focusing on enhancing the Government email system," Minister Mavetera said.
Despite the challenges with websites, many ministries maintain active social media profiles, particularly on Twitter and Facebook, where they provide updates. However, some ministries have abandoned their social media presence or lack it altogether.
Bulawayo-based ICT expert, Mr. Robert Ndlovu, stressed the need for African governments to modernize their communication systems. He pointed out that many officials still rely on personal email services like Gmail, which is not suitable for official communication. "Government ICT departments face several key challenges, including the use of external services for email and the lack of reliable local hosting solutions," he said.
Mr. Ndlovu suggested that an urgent ICT audit be conducted to assess the state of government infrastructure and improve connectivity. "We need a national survey to capture data from all government departments and provinces to inform ICT reforms," he added.
The importance of functional websites is underscored by the Freedom of Information Act, which mandates public entities to share information with citizens. Zimbabwe Institute of Public Relations (ZIPR) president, Mr. Thando Nkomo, emphasized that functional websites are crucial for transparency and accountability in governance.
"Efficient information flow is essential for accountability. Websites are vital tools for government communication, especially in combating misinformation and ensuring that citizens have access to verified, official information," said Mr. Nkomo.
With digital services playing an increasingly central role in public administration, the state of government websites poses a critical challenge to Zimbabwe's governance and economic competitiveness. Addressing the digital divide and ensuring that all government websites are functional, up-to-date, and accessible will be key to improving transparency, efficiency, and investor confidence.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently expressed his dissatisfaction with the state of government websites, emphasizing the need for better communication from ministries. During a Cabinet meeting on December 19, he addressed the challenges posed by outdated and poorly maintained websites, calling for greater efforts to ensure their functionality.
"It is a misnomer that with the abundant ICT skills and capacities among young people, our government has only a few functional and up-to-date ministry websites. More should be done to improve this situation," President Mnangagwa said. He added that the failure to regularly update ministry websites creates a communication gap that hinders investment and business operations.
The Government's Internet Service Provider (GISP), responsible for hosting official websites under the www.zim.gov.zw domain, is currently facing an outage. The duration of the downtime remains unclear, but it is affecting access to many government websites, including those of various ministries, departments, and parastatals.
While some ministries have opted to host their own websites, many of these remain inadequately updated. Of the 25 ministries, only 12 have fully functional websites, with the remaining websites either down or rarely updated. Some ministries have taken it upon themselves to host individual websites to ensure the continuity of services, but these too suffer from inconsistent updates.
Notably, the newly established Ministry of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle has yet to launch a website, further highlighting gaps in digital accessibility.
However, several parastatals and government agencies have maintained functional and up-to-date websites, with the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) standing out as an example. ZIDA's website is regularly updated, offering clear and comprehensive information aimed at attracting investors. According to ZIDA's Corporate Affairs Manager, Ms. Judith Mbetu, effective communication is critical for positioning Zimbabwe as an attractive investment destination.
"For investors, clarity, consistency, and accessibility of information are essential to mitigate risks and expedite decision-making processes. ZIDA's interactive website and digital engagement platforms ensure investors receive timely and accurate information," she said, adding that an up-to-date online presence is crucial in a competitive global market.
Minister of Information, Communication Technology, Postal, and Courier Services, Tatenda Mavetera, acknowledged the issues with government websites and confirmed that her ministry is collaborating with GISP to address the situation. She emphasized that while her ministry is not directly responsible for hosting the websites, they are working towards improving the hosting infrastructure and enhancing communication systems.
"We are working closely with GISP to improve the hosting of government services online, and we are also focusing on enhancing the Government email system," Minister Mavetera said.
Despite the challenges with websites, many ministries maintain active social media profiles, particularly on Twitter and Facebook, where they provide updates. However, some ministries have abandoned their social media presence or lack it altogether.
Bulawayo-based ICT expert, Mr. Robert Ndlovu, stressed the need for African governments to modernize their communication systems. He pointed out that many officials still rely on personal email services like Gmail, which is not suitable for official communication. "Government ICT departments face several key challenges, including the use of external services for email and the lack of reliable local hosting solutions," he said.
Mr. Ndlovu suggested that an urgent ICT audit be conducted to assess the state of government infrastructure and improve connectivity. "We need a national survey to capture data from all government departments and provinces to inform ICT reforms," he added.
The importance of functional websites is underscored by the Freedom of Information Act, which mandates public entities to share information with citizens. Zimbabwe Institute of Public Relations (ZIPR) president, Mr. Thando Nkomo, emphasized that functional websites are crucial for transparency and accountability in governance.
"Efficient information flow is essential for accountability. Websites are vital tools for government communication, especially in combating misinformation and ensuring that citizens have access to verified, official information," said Mr. Nkomo.
With digital services playing an increasingly central role in public administration, the state of government websites poses a critical challenge to Zimbabwe's governance and economic competitiveness. Addressing the digital divide and ensuring that all government websites are functional, up-to-date, and accessible will be key to improving transparency, efficiency, and investor confidence.
Source - the chronicle
