Despite technological advances, Mozambique still faces major difficulties in implementing an efficient e-government model. Dependence on paper and stamps is a sign of excessive bureaucracy, alongside corruption. Access to public services is slow and uneven. Computerisation is advancing in a fragmented manner, with little integration between institutions and limited impact on citizens’ lives.
Is the country ready to abandon the paper era and adopt a truly digital government?
In the world of Mozambican public institutions, stamps continue to reign supreme. Their absence can turn an official document into a simple piece of paper with no value whatsoever. Stamps dictate the pace of the state’s bureaucratic machine. This dependence on physical processes, marked by endless piles of files and the need for handwritten signatures at every stage, reflects the country’s slow transition to an e-government model. Computerisation is advancing at a slow pace, hampered by an institutional culture resistant to change and by technological infrastructure that falls short of what is needed to ensure fast and accessible public services.
Bureaucracy, one of the most entrenched features of Mozambican public administration, slows down processes and fosters an environment conducive to corruption. The proliferation of documentary requirements and the lack of transparency in the processing of cases create loopholes for the negotiation of ‘shortcuts’ and favours, distorting the normal functioning of the state apparatus. In an environment where speed can be bought, ordinary citizens are forced to navigate a maze of offices and requirements that hinder access to basic services, undermining trust in institutions.
Although Mozambique has adopted some initiatives, such as electronic platforms for registration and payments, the benefits are limited. Many receive payments under the table and resist change: they fight to maintain a system that allows them to earn money by charging favours. The modernisation of the state requires investment in digital infrastructure and a change of mindset in public management, prioritising efficiency, transparency and the provision of services accessible to all.
There is a lack of laws on digital identity and signatures, for example, which are necessary to give legal validity to electronic documents
Only 20% of the population has Internet access
Internet access in Mozambique remains a problem: the latest data from the Data Reportal website and the Mozambican National Communications Institute (INCM) indicate that only one-fifth of the 33 million inhabitants have a connection to the global network.
If we compare these figures with those of the countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the gaps become even more evident. In South Africa, for example, Internet access reaches around 78% of the population, while in Botswana it exceeds 66% and in Namibia it reaches 55%. These countries show that, with structured investments, assertive policies and greater state commitment, digital inclusion can become a reality. Given this scenario, one might question the absence of a strategy for computerisation in the Economic and Social Plan and State Budget (PESOE). The document, which defines the main government priorities, makes no mention of public expenditure for the digital transition of services. This omission raises doubts about the government’s real commitment to accelerating the transformation and ensuring that Internet access does not remain a privilege restricted to a minority of the Mozambican population and that it is more inclusive in rural and urban areas.
Almost everything is still lacking
Bruno Dias, consulting partner at Ernst & Young (EY) Mozambique, is monitoring the digital transition process in Mozambique and points to fundamental problems: the lack of adequate infrastructure for Internet access. The situation is exacerbated by the size of the country, which widens the gap between rural and urban areas. The problems of digital inclusion are even greater and affect the entire ecosystem that can be planned. ‘This vector is closely related to data protection and cybersecurity, which are critical concerns, especially with regard to citizens’ privacy,’ he argued. Another problem is the shortage of qualified professionals to manage and operate systems related to e-governance, which is a major obstacle, compounded by ‘natural resistance to change.’
On the other hand, with regard to regulatory issues, Bruno Dias points to the absence of a clear and up-to-date legal framework, which creates uncertainty and problems in the implementation of innovative initiatives. There is a lack of laws on digital identity and signatures, for example, which are necessary to give legal validity to electronic documents. Nevertheless, Bruno Dias acknowledges some progress in recent years. The government and the National Institute of Information and Communication Technologies (INTIC) have published important legislation such as the regulation of the e-government interoperability framework, the Mozambique Digital Certification System Regulation (SCDM) and the National Cyber Security Policy and Strategy. These still need to be implemented.
Lack of commitment to reforms
Digital transformation will depend on the ability to ‘reform and innovate’. It is not just a matter of introducing computer systems and providing training, says Rogério Samo Gudo, one of those responsible for MCNet, the entity implementing the Single Electronic Window (JUE). The platform was created 15 years ago to facilitate international trade, integrated at the top of a reform. In other words, it is the visible face of a deeper process.
‘It makes no sense for the state to worry about cables, servers and hardware. There is an urgent need to dematerialise processes and focus on the mental and operational modernisation of institutions,’ Rogério Samo Gudo
Samo Gudo believes that the State is distracted by hardware, instead of delegating this task to those who understand the subject and focusing on its role, which is to implement reforms. ‘It makes no sense for the State to worry about cables, servers and hardware. There is an urgent need to dematerialise processes and focus on the mental and operational modernisation of institutions.’
‘An example: does the State really need its own data centre? What is needed is to ensure transaction security and process efficiency.’ Technological infrastructure – above and beyond the basic public Internet access and energy networks – should be ’the responsibility of the private sector, which has the experience and capacity to manage it efficiently.’
The result: the state wastes time and money on servers and machinery that require ‘technological upgrades, a costly process that is not part of its role’, but which should be in the hands of the private sector – as is the case in other countries.
Samo Gudo gives another example, the mobile operator Tmcel. ‘Why does it need to be a state-owned company? The state regulates the market and, at the same time, competes in it, which creates a conflict of interest. This duality compromises the efficiency and competitiveness of the sector.’ He reiterated: ‘The state should be a facilitator, not an obstacle.’
Resistance vs political will
Without political will, resistance to change will eventually win out, suggests Samo Gudo. ‘There must be policies and decrees that require the adoption of new practices.’ At the same time, he considers it essential that there be a strong
training component for change, ‘so that people realise that this transition is happening all over the world. The fear of losing routine is one of the biggest challenges’ and must be deconstructed for digital innovation to take hold as a reform and not as disposable software.
The success of e-government is also anchored in the expansion of fibre optics
Samo Gudo even puts his finger on the sore spot when he states that ‘the lack of political will is an obstacle.’ He argues: ‘In the Single Electronic Window, we feel that we could have done much more to integrate other ministries involved in the import and export chain. Or integrate them into the trade aspect, where there is great potential, since most ministries have an economic aspect.’ But this did not happen and the opportunity to maximise efficiency was lost.
‘If all ministries with an economic dimension were on a digital platform, e-government would be about 80% implemented. This means that the circulation of processes could become digital, eliminating paper, physical signatures and unnecessary transactions. The result would be a robust database that would enable responsible and detailed analysis and more effective economic planning,’ he said.
Institutional disconnect
According to Samo Gudo, most of the entities responsible for the digital transition operate in isolation. ‘We have already had meetings with ministers, including those responsible for communication and digital transformation, and there is an intention to unify everything under a single structure.’ If so, this will ensure ‘greater consistency in policy implementation,’ he said.
The country is challenged to invest in modern data centres and cybersecurity
‘Dispersion is a problem. Investments have already been made in various digital platforms, but it is necessary to adopt international standards and require security certifications that are common to all services. If, for example, a job applicant has to prove their qualifications through certifications, why doesn’t the state require the same for all systems?’
Despite the criticism, there is hope. Samo Gudo believes that the new government’s stance will be more focused on the digital transition – as evidenced, among other things, by the creation of a ministry dedicated to digital transformation. We will have to wait and see.
Text: Celso Chambisso & Nário Sixpene • Photography: Istockphoto
