ARUSHA: MINISTER of State in the President’s Office, Public Service Management and Good Governance, Mr George Simbachawene has stated that the e-Government systems established in the country have earned Tanzania significant international recognition.
Minister Simbachawene explained that the systems, which were developed by local experts through the e-Government Authority (e-GA), have enabled the country to win various awards in international competitions.
He made the remarks in Arusha during the annual e-Government Conference, which brought together stakeholders from public institutions to discuss achievements, challenges and ways to enhance public service delivery through e-Government.
The conference began on Tuesday with the theme “Efforts and Innovation in E-Government for Efficient Public Service Delivery.” The theme underscores the importance of innovation in implementing e-Government initiatives to improve efficiency and service provision.
He explained that in 2024, Tanzania was honoured with the United Nations Public Service Award (UNPSA) for its excellence in public service delivery.
The award was attributed to the e-Mrejesho system, a platform for receiving and addressing complaints, feedback, compliments and inquiries.
Moreover, the e-Mrejesho system was recognised by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as one of the top eight systems highlighted at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) held in Geneva in May 2024.
Tanzania has also gained global recognition, ranking second in Africa and first in East and Central Africa in the GovTech Maturity Index report released by the World Bank in 2023. This report assesses the maturity of technology use in government services and citizen engagement.
The National procurement System of Tanzania (NeST), designed and developed in collaboration with the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA), won the award for the Best Public Procurement System in Africa in 2024.
These awards, presented by the African Association for Public Administration and Management (AAPAM), were contested under the supervision of the African Union (AU).
The e-Government Authority has also received delegations from various African countries, including Zambia, Gambia, Namibia and Comoros, who visited Tanzania to learn and gain experience in various aspects of e-Government.
“I extend my gratitude and congratulations to the board of directors and the management of the e-GA for their collaboration and teamwork in strengthening e-Government efforts. This cooperation has enabled the authority to achieve its goals with professionalism and efficiency,” he said.
The e-Government Authority is an internal government institution that facilitates the execution of government functions through Information and Communication Technology (ICT). In essence, it serves as the government’s digital infrastructure responsible for securing government information.
The establishment of e-GA is a response to technological advancements, particularly the increasing use of ICT in government operations and public service delivery.
