Vol 7. No. 4 - October, 2014 African Journal of Computing & ICT © 2014 Afr J Comp & ICT – All Rights Reserved - ISSN 2006-1781 www.ajocict.net 85 Digital and Interactive Content Production as Part of Lesotho Strategic Development – A Brief Study On Lesotho Working Towards National Colloboration For Updated Civil Register and Voter Register in the Spirit of Improved Service Delivery John Maphephe, Rishi Balkaran & Surendra Thakur Durban University of Technology Durban, South Africa jmaphephe@msn.com, jmaphephe@gmail.com, rishi@dut.ac.za, thakur@dut.ac.za ABSTRACT Some say that the world is getting smaller, but I believe with those who say it is not. It just feels smaller, because modern technology helps overcome the distances. To be part of the modern world, with its advantages and obligations an identity is required. For the government to provide schooling, health services, and local government delivery services and to know who should be eligible to vote, it needs to know who you are. It also needs to know who are to pay taxes, do public service delivery and contribute to society in other ways. This is why many countries want to keep track of their residents; to know when they are born, when they marry or divorce and when they die. Decision-makers depend on sound and timely statistics for policy development, decision making and for programme monitoring and evaluation. In the present scenario, Information communication technology has added the impetus to the services provided by the Lesotho Government (GOL) since the implementation of Lesotho Government Data Network (LGDN). This paper will highlights the role of digital technology and interactive content for strategic development of Lesotho and the potential of Lesotho Government working towards national collaboration specifically for update civil register, census data and voter register.. Keywords, Service, Civil, Voter, Data, Register & ICT African Journal of Computing & ICT Reference Format: John Maphephe, Rishi Balkaran & Surendra Thakur. (2014). Digital and Interactive Content Production as Part of Lesotho Strategic Development – A Brief Study On Lesotho Working Towards National Colloboration For Updated Civil Register and Voter Register in the Sprit of Improved Service Delivery. Afr J. of Comp & ICTs. Vol 7, No. 4. Pp 85-90. 1. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND [1]Following the successful conclusion of the 2012 elections, Lesotho Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) envisaged to continue to support the sustainability of know-how and the development of long-term capacities of the (IEC), including the latest voter registration technologies getting adopted [4]. To this end, the Programme can Assistance and improve, the current ongoing Lesotho Civil Registration to harmonize its national civil registry with IEC’s voter database, as well as other agency databases, so that Government Funded institution can work together and collaborate as necessary. Developing a strategic plan which will demonstrates a clear need and the official exchange of information will improve information dissemination to electorates. A clear definition as to who is entitled to vote, as voting depends also on the age, comprehensive legal requirements and constituency depends on residence, so the details of voter registration can change but the citizenship changes vest on the responsibilities of Home Affairs Ministry. And the ‘Right to Vote’ is decided by the Lesotho IEC, not the Home Affairs Ministry.[3]. Central to the debate is that there is overwhelming evidence that Lesotho people want all Government information to be centralized to this extent. A common National Identity implies that all records are tied to that ID, which gives the government agencies great power as well as convenience and flexibility. Overall, a combined ID Card and Voter Registration has many advantages, as it allows the development of a permanent rolling voter register and takes the pressure off the IEC when elections are called. Lesotho has the skills, and most of good technology infrastructure, to do this, so the only problems are people culture in Government authorities, political commitment and cost to deliver this project. The project might run within a period of 8-12 months under professional private and technical advisers. There will be a need to develop a plan for the integration of civic and voter registration in Lesotho, and to determine the costs and benefits. Implementation and support for the programme may take longer time. The plan will cover capacity building for Lesotho IEC information technology department and Home Affairs Civil & National ID department [3].