WINDHOEK – The Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Joël Kaapanda, said that ICT functions of the government were currently fragmented but stressed they would be consolidated.
Kaapanda said discussions and consultations were underway with the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) regarding consolidation of information technology.
He was responding to questions and comments made by Members of Parliament (MPs) on his ministry.
Deputy Minister of Lands and Resettlement Theo Diergaardt Diergaardt expressed concern over ICT fragmentation in government and suggested all functions be consolidated under one roof and that MICT develop standards and network security systems to protect the government network.
Kaapanda said that MICT and OPM set up teams to identify which functions would remain with each office.
The Prime Minister Dr Hage Geingob was open to the idea of consolidating ICT functions in order to accelerate ICT development and security of government infrastructure.
“The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology is seized with the finalization of the Electronic Transaction Bill that will provide e-commerce, e-signature and cyber crime and cyber security,” he said, adding the bill would further provide establishment of computer emergency response that would also address the security of computer emergency response.
He said the bill would ensure government determines which institutions be classified as needing high security and proper protection.
He added that after the bill is passed, a security architecture of critical government institutions would be developed to ensure the security of all state institutions in general.
Parliamentarian Elifas Ndingara said although there is good infrastructure in the country that facilitates cellular network coverage, some parts of the country did not receive any coverage, which puts pressure on MTC and Telecom Namibia to provide cellular network along the borders.
Kaapanda said there were many parts without network coverage and MTC and Telecom were doing whatever they could to provide infrastructure for all Namibians through radio, television and postal services.
“We have to remember that Telecom, MTC and NamPost do not receive government subsidy but use own resources to finance infrastructure. I wish to propose that if MPs so wish to [approach] the Ministry of Finance … that government decides that the three entities should not declare dividends to government for a period of five years but that the money should instead be put in one basket to be administered by the National Planning Commission,” he said.
He suggested that the money be used to finance infrastructure development in the whole country, which should be preceded by an infrastructure audit or survey to determine the needs and location.
“This must be conducted the same way that the mass housing project was initiated for the backlog of housing,” added Kaapanda.
On comments made by MP Kazenambo Kazenambo about the location of transformers on private property, which hinders residents in the Omatako constituency, Kaapanda said his ministry would investigate and find solutions to that.
Another MP Alexcia Manombe-Ncube asked if the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) could not introduce sign language for Talk of the Nation and Parliamentary Debate.
Kaapanda said the NBC would also address the parliamentarian’s concerns.
The Minister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development (Rtd) Major General Charles Namoloh expressed concern over inaccuracy in translation of the English language into local vernaculars, especially in Oshiwambo in which the original meaning of messages were lost.
Kaapanda said the University of Namibia was discussing the development of a reference book with commonly used words and expressions in the English language and would also introduce a training programme for radio announcers on how to pronounce names properly and use the right words.
The MICT was allocated a total of N$566.8 million for the 2014/15 financial year.
By Magreth Nunuhe