Government yesterday held its inaugural Cabinet meeting on
a highly-secure virtual-platform as part of national efforts to curb the spread
of Covid-19 pandemic by keeping groups of ministers in seperate locations when
they need to meet.
President Mnangagwa launched the system yesterday at the
State House.
To ensure maximum security of information, the government
developed an in-house virtual conferencing software application and virtual
private networks for use in conducting Cabinet committee meetings.
Cabinet meetings are regarded as top secret in all
countries and the system developed within Government circles had to be secure.
The launch was attended by a small group of Cabinet
members, incuding Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, Vice President Kembo
Mohadi and Ministers Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri, Sibusiso Moyo, Monica Mutsvangwa,
Mthuli Ncube, Sithembiso Nyoni, Anxious Masuka and Soda Zhemu, plus senior
Government officials. Other ministers were at the Munhumutapa new boardroom.
The launch follows the decision by Cabinet to adopt a
virtual system for its meetings as part of measures to curb the spread of Covid
19 and in line with the World Health Organisation guidelines.
The system, which is user friendly while it ensures top
notch security, was developed using local software.
The technology will now see Cabinet meetings being
conducted at three separate venues; the State House Cabinet tent, Cabinet Room
and the new Munhumutapa boardroom.
The technical team that developed the technology included
the Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier
Services, Cabinet secretariat department, President’s department, Government
internet services provider and the e-Government technology unit in the Office
of the President and Cabinet.
President Mnangagwa said the outbreak of the global
pandemic had necessitated expeditious implementing of the process. “Owing to
the increasing number of cases attributed to local transmission we agreed as
cabinet to adopt virtual meetings as part of measures to comply with the Who
guidelines.
“The decision also took into account the progress our
systems have achieved in migrating to virtual platforms with the e-Government
technology unit assuming a leading role in that regard.
“Our virtual meetings will be held on secure home grown
platforms which are being perfected as we move on,” he said.
The President said all Government business will be
conducted on the virtual platform, rather than foreign and commercial software
platforms such as zoom, when dealing with classified Government information
except when being hosted by other partners outside Government.
“As per practice, the agenda will constitute the invitation
to all meetings. Members will be advised of the meeting venues in accordance
with the matters under discussion on the day according to the agenda.
He said given the logistical requirements associated with
the distribution and circulation of Cabinet documents and the need to maintain
safety in the Covid-19 era, business will be strictly as on the agenda.
“As the executive we have to lead by example. Our focus on
the attainment of Vision 2030 remains on course,” he said.
The President urged Cabinet members to embrace the new mode
of doing business.
Chief secretary in the Office of the President Dr Misheck
Sibanda said to ensure maximum security of information, the technical team
developed an in-house virtual conferencing software application and virtual
private networks for use in conducting Cabinet committee meetings.
“We have distributed guidelines on virtual conferencing for
Cabinet with a handbook,” he said.
0 comments:
Post a Comment