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MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INNOVATION APPEARS BEFORE PAC The Ministry of Communications and Innovation appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to account for the 2022/2023 financial records under the then Ministry of Transport and Communications. The Committee probed the Ministry over a number of abandoned and delayed projects, including the failed eGov project, which involved an expenditure of P423 million. Members sought an explanation for the project's collapse and the utilisation of funds. The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications and Innovation, Mr Cecil Masiga attributed the failure, among other factors to inadequate internal capacity to manage and deliver the programme. The Committee also sought clarity on the direct appointment of a foreign company to supply customised vehicle number plates, the maintenance and construction of several roads, as well as malpractice and corruption involving the sale of driver's licences by some officers within the Department of Road Transport and Safety. Regarding progress made, the Acting Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Mr Pius Keone reported on the modernisation of road transport services through the rollout of an intelligent driver testing system and a driver theory testing system aimed at enhancing customer access and reducing opportunities for corruption. In addition, amendments to the Road Traffic Act and the Road Transport Permits Act are being pursued to strengthen regulation and road safety. The Permanent Secretaries further outlined a number of challenges including funding constraints, aged infrastructure, delayed litigation and project implementation setbacks, as well as the need to remodel the Department of Information Technology (DIT), a process constrained by limited financial resources.