Africa-Press – Namibia. Africa’s parliaments must embrace digital transformation to avoid falling behind in advancing democracy, transparency and governance.
This was the message from Speaker of Parliament Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila at the official opening of the 22nd Annual Conference of the Association of Parliamentary Libraries of Eastern and Southern Africa (APLESA) underway in Swakopmund.
The conference, which runs until Friday, brings together representatives from 12 African countries under the theme ‘Parliamentary Libraries and Democracy in the Digital Age’.
Addressing the delegates, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said the gathering comes at a time when technology is driving a shift toward digital libraries that offer access to digitised collections of books, audiovisual materials and other documents.
She noted that this enables users to search for and access materials online, anytime and anywhere.
“Parliamentary libraries are designed to support legislators with the information they need to carry out their duties effectively. They are not just repositories of books, but also centres of expert research, policy briefs and historical records that preserve institutional memory and promote informed governance,” she said.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila highlighted the strides made by Namibia in modernising its parliamentary library.
This includes the digitisation of historical records, committee reports and debates through an open-source platform known as D-Space.
“Our E-Parliament Strategy and the National Assembly’s 2023-2027 Strategic Plan both prioritise the full digitisation of parliamentary processes to enhance public access. This ensures that members of parliament, staff and the public can access important documents at any time from anywhere,” she said.
She pointed to the 2022 Access to Information Act as a significant step toward greater transparency, noting that the appointment of an independent information commissioner will further support ongoing digitisation efforts.
However, she cautioned that the path to digital transformation is not without its challenges, particularly for countries with limited resources.
“We must be honest about the obstacles – from inadequate funding for information and communication infrastructure to copyright and licensing barriers as well as a general lack of digital literacy.
“As we transition, we must equip our staff and MPs with the necessary digital skills,” she said.
Secretary to the National Council Advocate Tousy Namiseb stressed the high costs involved in maintaining democratic systems in the digital age.
“We all acknowledge that democracy is an expensive exercise. Keeping up with tools like artificial intelligence and digital libraries is extremely costly,” he said.
He urged African leaders to place individuals with strong governance, administrative and economic backgrounds at the forefront of digital transformation efforts.
“We need people who understand both the executive and legislative arms of government – leaders who can apply global innovation to local realities,” he added.
APLESA president Isaiah Munyoro reaffirmed the association’s commitment to capacity building and institutional strengthening.
“Our libraries must evolve into dynamic institutions that support governance and democracy,” he said.
“They are more than information banks. They are gateways to knowledge and civic engagement,” he stated.
Munyoro announced that APLESA will launch capacity-building workshops across the continent, starting with Namibia.
“Through training and collaboration, we will ensure that parliamentary libraries across Africa remain accessible, relevant and digitally equipped,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, Erongo governor Neville Andre urged African nations to learn from one another to better serve their citizens.
“Let this meeting strengthen our political agenda of building an integrated and united Africa,” he said.
“Use this platform to create tangible outcomes that can improve information services in your respective countries,” he noted.
For More News And Analysis About Namibia Follow Africa-Press
