Totality of processes, tools, documents, and other information systems such as telecommunication networks, Internet, etc., that form the basis or facilitates the daily functioning of a particular legal system. Such tools include document management systems, case management systems, decision making systems, record management systems.
Published in Chapter:
E-Documents and E-Signatures in Tanzania: Their Role, Status, and the Future
Ubena John (Stockholm University, Sweden)
Copyright: © 2012
|Pages: 33
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-0324-0.ch005
Abstract
This chapter analyses the use of e-Documents and e-Signatures in Tanzania with a view of establishing their legal status, applicability, and the future of such technologies in e-Government systems. That is important as Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is widely employed in Tanzania. Moreover, the development and application of information systems is influenced by law. Therefore, the problem investigated is twofold: First, legal status, validity, and admissibility of e-Documents and e-Signatures in evidence in Tanzania are questioned. Second, the challenges facing the establishment of e-Government in Tanzania are explored. The chapter is a qualitative study, i.e. library- and desk-based research. Various literatures focusing on e-Documents and e-Signatures are reviewed, analysed, and evaluated so as to draw a conclusion on the relevancy of e-Documents and e-Signatures in the e-Government projects in Tanzania. The literature analysis conducted found that there is a lack of legal framework to recognize e-Documents and e-Signatures compounded with poor ICT infrastructure in Tanzania. This scenario puts e-Government endeavours at risk. It is recommended that the government should enact the laws to recognise e-Documents and e-Signatures to boost e-Commerce as well as e-Government.