Currently the electronic government network only covers the central ministries in Maputo and the provincial capitals. But, for the period 2010-2015, the project envisages extending "e-government" to 64 districts, and establishing a further 20 Community Multimedia Centres (CMCs).
There are already 26 CMCs in district capitals, providing local communities with access to the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICTs). These centres are an initiative by the Ministry of Science and Technology in its drive to provide citizens with access to modern communications systems.
"By December we can connect at least ten districts to the electronic government grid and set up four CMCs", according to the project coordinator, Lourino Chemane, speaking at a Maputo press conference on Tuesday.
He said that extending the electronic government network could speed up the work of state institutions at district level, and increase the flow of information between the central, provincial and district governments.
"One of the objectives of this project is to reduce the costs of communication for citizens and specific social groups, and to help draw up new regulations that will allow the entry of new mobile phone operators into the Mozambican market", he added.
A further component of the project is the funding of a "Maputo Business Incubator", an institution intended to support entrepreneurs interested in setting up companies in the ICT area.
Chemane was speaking after the official launch of the Fourth Annual Electronic Government Forum in Africa, a three day meeting in Maputo organised by the Science and Technology Ministry, in partnership with the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO).
The meeting is attended by about 130 delegates, representing institutions of various African governments, businesses, regulators, and ICT providers and beneficiaries.
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Quelle/Source: AllAfrica, 23.03.2010
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