THE PARADOX OF E-GOVERNANCE! ARE LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN SADC REGION READY? FUMBLING AT A CROSSROADS IN SEARCH OF NEW REALITIES.

Authors

  • Kudzai Percy Siyavizva Department of Law and Public Administration, BAISAGO University, Bag F238, Francistown, Botswana
  • Shakerod Munuhwa Business Management Department, BAISAGO University, Bag F238, Francistown, Botswana
  • Justine Mbudaya Accounting and Finance Department, BAISAGO University, Bag F238, Francistown

Keywords:

E-governance, Local authorities, SADC Region

Abstract

The rise of digital platforms cannot be overstated in terms of how it improves the role and functions of local governments in terms of law and order, taxation, legislation, regulation, education, health care, and social development. One of the principal objectives of embracing e-governance is to provide citizens with basic services, enhancing efficiency, transparency, and accountability of local and national governments as well as any other government department or institution. The million-dollar question would be, is Africa ready? Are local authorities ready? If not, what would be the precluding factors in adopting e-governance? This paper seeks to interrogate e-governance practices in the SADC region, exposing how the process has been so dire due to fumbling in the region’s local government institutions. This helps the government to align services with the changing needs of both citizens and other stakeholders as it deliberates the challenges that render the fumbling of local authorities at crossroads. The existing paradox presents a challenge as to the preparedness of local authorities to embrace holistically the dictates of e-governance in a globalised society. An empirical study was conducted to provide primary evidence on e-governance systems in local authorities. The researchers in this paper adopt an in-depth review of the existing body of literature premised on the functions of local authorities in Africa and the SADC region. The findings and recommendations derived from this paper will aid in developing an e- governance model in the SADC region which will feed into ICT policy frameworks. Future research on e-governance across the African continent needs to be commissioned to have a full understanding of e-governance in developing economies.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Ajibade, O., Ibietan, J., &Ayelabola, O. (2017). E-governance implementation and public service delivery in Nigeria: the technology acceptance model (TAM) application. Journal of Public Administration and Governance, 7(4), 165-174.

AMARA, T. C. (2019). E-Governance in the Public Sect. International Journal of Sustainable Development, 6(1), 68-74.

Ata-Agboni, J. U., & Olufemi, I. O. (2021). E-Governance and E-Government: Rethinking Public Governance in Nigeria, within the Context of COVID-19. Journal of Good Governance and Sustainable Development in Africa, 6(2), 54-59.

Bubou, G. M., Japheth, R. B., &Gumus, S. (2018). A complex systems approach to e- governance adoption and implementation in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Independent Journal of Management & Production, 9(2), 473-492.

Froehlich, A., Ringas, N., & Wilson, J. (2021). How space can support African civil societies: Security, peace, and development through Efficient Governance Supported by space applications. Acta Astronautica.

Guy-MaurilleMassamba The Model Praxis, USAE-Government in Public Administration in Africa: Systemic Impediments and Perspectives

Implementation of e-Government: Advantages and Challenges M. Alshehri, S. Drew

J. Seifert, A primer on E-government: Sectors, stages, opportunities, and challenges of online Governance. Report for Congress, 2003. Accessed on 14 October, 2005, from http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/.

Muridzi, G., Meyer, J. A., &Masengu, R. Urban Governance in Africa–A Perspective of E- Governance in South Africa Urban Municipalities.

Kalu, I., & Obasi, C. (2021). E-Governance and Economic Development in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Case of Nigeria. Development, 11(1).

Muridzi, G. (2019). Framework for e-governance to improve service delivery for local authorities in South Africa (Doctoral dissertation, North-West University (South Africa).

Froehlich, A., Ringas, N., & Wilson, J. (2021). How space can support African civil societies: Security, peace, and development through Efficient Governance Supported by space applications. Acta Astronautica.

Smit, W. (2018). Urban governance in Africa: an overview. African cities and the development conundrum, 55-77.

Zafarullah, H., & Ferdous, J. (2021). Cyberspace at the Grassroots: E-Governance and Citizen/Stakeholder Perceptions at the Local Level in Bangladesh. Journal of Development Policy and Practice, 6(2), 168-187.

K. Layne and J. Lee, Developing fully functional Egovernment: A four stage model. Government Information Quarterly, vol.18, no.3, pp.122 -136, 2001.

Khanra, S., & Joseph, R. P. (2019). Adoption of e-Governance: The mediating role of language proficiency and digital divide in an emerging market context. Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy.

Karmakar, J. (2020). Understanding the Role of E-Governance in Urban Areas of West Bengal. In Role of IT-ITES in Economic Development of Asia (pp. 95-108). Springer, Singapore.

United Nations, UN Global E-government Readiness Report, Toward Access for Opportunity. New York, 2004.

Using e-Tools for Good Governance & Administrative Reforms Dr. P.K. Mohanty, IAS Director General, Centre for Good Governance, Hyderabad pkmohanty_cgg@yahoo.com

V. Ndou, E-government for developing countries: opportunities and challenges. The Electronic Journal on Information Systems in Developing Countries vol. 18, no. 1, pp.1-24, 2004.

Downloads

Published

2022-09-30

How to Cite

Siyavizva, K. P. ., Munuhwa, S. ., & Mbudaya, J. . (2022). THE PARADOX OF E-GOVERNANCE! ARE LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN SADC REGION READY? FUMBLING AT A CROSSROADS IN SEARCH OF NEW REALITIES. The Journal of Contemporary Issues in Business and Government, 28(3), 14–24. Retrieved from https://cibgp.com/au/index.php/1323-6903/article/view/2346

Issue

Vol. 28 No. 3 (2022): The journal of contemporary issues in business and government

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2022 The journal of contemporary issues in business and government

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

You are free to:

  1. Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format for any purpose, even commercially.
  2. Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
  3. The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.

Under the following terms:

  1. Attribution — You must give appropriate credit , provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made . You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
  2. No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.

Notices:

You do not have to comply with the license for elements of the material in the public domain or where your use is permitted by an applicable exception or limitation .

No warranties are given. The license may not give you all of the permissions necessary for your intended use. For example, other rights such as publicity, privacy, or moral rights may limit how you use the material.