The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning has launched a 72-hour solutions development event, where developers, programmers, and sector practitioners in the sub-Saharan Africa region are invited to register and produce an integrated solution that will allow users to authenticate transactions and manage documents in the integrated financial management information system (IMFS).
Speaking at the event, the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Ms Nthoateng Lebona said the objective is to design a practical and innovative potential digital technology solution in a hackathon to authenticate transactions and documents in the IFMIS by the users.
She highlighted that this potential digital solution could be used across the public sector for transaction processing.
“The main benefits of the digital signature infrastructure will be automating the PFM processes by doing away with the paper-based processing of transactions in the system, therefore improving the efficiency and effectiveness of PFM processes”, she explained.
She added that it will strengthen the internal controls and prevent further accumulation of expenditure arrears by improving the coverage of commitment controls and e-Payments Stronger controls over payment processing and fewer chances of payment fraud.
On the same token, the Director General of ICT in the Ministry of Information Communications, Science, Technology and Innovation, (MICSTI) Mr Thapeli Tjabane said there are three key ministries supporting these initiatives, his Ministry, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning.
He highlighted that MICSTI is developing the e-parliament and hopes that the competitors will develop a digital signature that will enhance the cabinet’s work.
He expressed hope that competitors will come up with solutions that the government of Lesotho will implement and enhance security, scalability, and adoption of new technology.
On the other hand, the IMF representative, Mr Alok Kumar said they received 61 proposals and five proposals made it to the final.
He said that after the event the solutions will be given to the accountant general to put them to use, adding that he hopes that the competitors will come up with great ideas.
The event is organised in collaboration with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The Winners will be announced on Thursday after the completion of the event.
