E-records management and e-government in Southern Africa

Abstract

E-government initiatives are often part of broader reforms to improve public sector performance in delivering services to citizens and to businesses and in increasing efficiency. This paper discusses electronic records management (ERM) as one of the important building blocks for e-government. The author discusses some of the e-government initiatives in southern Africa and the ERM implications of these, drawing on studies carried out in a number of countries in the region. It is suggested that a range of different problems hinder the effective implementation of e-government; these include poor data systems and technological infrastructure, inadequate legal and regulatory frameworks, lack of skills, a lack of commitment by leaders to push the e-government agenda forward, and a failure to address the management of electronic records. Without an effort to incorporate ERM components into e-government projects, the capture of evidence emanating from e-transactions is in jeopardy and accountability and transpare...