Moving towards a digitally inclusive Namibia

At the ninth annual session of DRIF, certain stakeholders shaping the digital sphere in Namibia shared key issues facing the rights of Namibians on the internet. The deputy minister of information and communication technology, Emma Theofilus, announced that the ministry will be working closely with the Digital Foundation of Namibia to address the low levels of literacy in information and communication technologies (ICT).

“The low levels of ICT in the country have led to low uptake of e-commerce and internet utilisation and a general lack of understanding of the relevance of ICT,” said Theofilus.

The young minister Theofilus further identified the need to pay attention to citizens living in rural areas and disabilities to address the low levels of ICT literacy. Furthermore, she shared that the ministry is also looking to address skills development and the “nurturing of sustainable human capital development.”

According to the president of the Digital Foundation, Erkkie Hapinge, the aim of the foundation is to work with partners and stakeholders in empowering Namibian communities to participate meaningfully in the digital era.

Some of the issues addressed were presented by the author of the Namibia Digital Rights and Inclusion Report of 2020., Nashilongo Gervasius. In the report, Gervasius addressed the lack of urgency in adopting a digital rights law in Namibia. In the report it is further stated that Namibia is a part of 10 other countries in Africa who ratified a law on the convention of cybersecurity and personal data protection. However, Namibia still lacks a key element being a part of the ratification of the convention by not having a data protection law, the bill of the latter has been in draft form since 2013.

With the advent of Press Freedom Day, the report further addressed the anticipation of the country towards the access to information bill to be passed which is still a topical issue, overlooked in parliament.