Introduction Rapidly growth in information communication and technology is one of the greatest challenges for mostly developing nations who are wrestling with complex issues in relation to sustainable development. With her small population of about 2 million inhabitants, Namibia has the highest income inequality rate in the world and efforts to breach the gap between the poor and the rich seem, elusive. Majority of the citizens live in areas where abject poverty and inadequate access to public services persist. Taken together, the 1991 population and housing census enumerated 28 percent of the total population in urban and 72 percent in rural areas. In essence, Namibia is still largely a rural population. It has become apparent that such as a scenario, if not systematically challenged through targeted programs and projects may adversely contribute to stagnated development if not unsustainable efforts. It is scholarly argued that government and private sector intervention through policy and deliberate empowerment programs is needed to bridge the digital divide between rural areas and urban centres which profoundly purports poverty and underdevelopment. Although concerted efforts are being made by government, Namibia is still lagging behind in ICT integration. ICT is still seen as a luxury by many people and while rural populations would prefer to shy away from this revolution, they are unwillingly bundled in the wagon and there seem not be options out there, but to join the information society ICT is here to – stay! More so, the interaction of rural and urban populations and the inherent relations in commerce and industry exerts pressure on societal formation and might as well be one of the stronger forces prompting the need for integration of nations. The application of ICT tools is recognised broadly as a fundamental way of assisting citizens to access statutory rights enshrined in their constitution but bring about participatory development and deepening the values of democracy. ICT is a catalyst tool for economic development and social emancipation for developing countries such as Namibia.
Introduction Rapidly growth in information communication and technology is one of the greatest challenges for mostly developing nations who are wrestling with complex issues in relation to sustainable development. With her small population of about 2 million inhabitants, Namibia has the highest income inequality rate in the world and efforts to breach the gap between the poor and the rich seem, elusive. Majority of the citizens live in areas where abject poverty and inadequate access to public services persist. Taken together, the 1991 population and housing census enumerated 28 percent of the total population in urban and 72 percent in rural areas. In essence, Namibia is still largely a rural population. It has become apparent that such as a scenario, if not systematically challenged through targeted programs and projects may adversely contribute to stagnated development if not unsustainable efforts. It is scholarly argued that government and private sector intervention through policy and deliberate empowerment programs is needed to bridge the digital divide between rural areas and urban centres which profoundly purports poverty and underdevelopment. Although concerted efforts are being made by government, Namibia is still lagging behind in ICT integration. ICT is still seen as a luxury by many people and while rural populations would prefer to shy away from this revolution, they are unwillingly bundled in the wagon and there seem not be options out there, but to join the information society – ICT is here to stay! More so, the interaction of rural and urban populations and the inherent relations in commerce and industry exerts pressure on societal formation and might as well be one of the stronger forces prompting the need for integration of nations. The application of ICT tools is recognised broadly as a fundamental way of assisting citizens to access statutory rights enshrined in their constitution but bring about participatory development and deepening the values of democracy. ICT is a catalyst tool for economic development and social emancipation for developing countries such as Namibia.
MLA2%2BOTC%2BRural%2BSummit%2BReport_Namibia.docx