Tinomudaishe Ndhlovu: Driving digital innovation at the City of Windhoek
Francouis PretoriusTinomudaishe Ndhlovu, a business systems engineer in the City of Windhoek’s ICT department, has only been with the team for four months, yet his impact is already being felt across several high-stakes projects.His role focuses on collaborating with different business departments to design, implement and integrate technology into daily operations, to reduce manual processes and digitise workflows. “I get to remove, reduce and sometimes even completely digitise entire workflow processes, eliminating the need for a paper trail,” he explains.
Ndhlovu was drawn to the department by the opportunity to make a meaningful difference through technology.
“I wanted a new start and an expansion in the type of solutions that I can build. The City has numerous in-house projects that would make a great impact on the lives of residents,” he says.
“Being part of business systems meant building systems that would also make thousands of employees’ work easier,” he adds.
His first months on the job have been both rewarding and inspiring. Being entrusted with complex projects has reinforced his commitment to excellence, while working with a highly capable team has made onboarding seamless. “The trust to be handed a high-stakes project is always a momentous feeling. The team is one of the best I have had the pleasure of collaborating with,” he shares.
Perfecting service
delivery
A typical day for Ndhlovu combines structure with problem-solving.
Mondays are dedicated to ensuring that the previous week’s work is completed, documented and reviewed before Tuesday’s stand-up meeting. The rest of the week focuses on implementing new features, fixing bugs and occasionally updating project stakeholders.
Problem-solving and critical thinking are at the core of his profession.
“They allow you to easily identify patterns in tasks and issues, making you much more efficient in completing your work,” he notes. Currently, he is working on a system designed to help employees meet their key performance indicators (KPIs) more efficiently, one of several projects aimed at improving overall service delivery.
What Ndhlovu enjoys most about ICT is the ability to ease daily burdens through system development. His role ensures that business departments can achieve their goals with less strain, ultimately supporting the City’s broader mission of effective service delivery.
Keep learning
Staying ahead of technology trends is another priority for him. He subscribes to multiple tech platforms, attends conferences throughout the year, and networks with fellow developers to exchange insights and skills. Looking ahead, Ndhlovu hopes to grow into a more advanced software developer within the department, completing projects efficiently while bringing lasting value to the organisation.
For young professionals entering ICT, he offers practical advice: “Keep learning how to do everything before attempting to use AI platforms. Learn how to understand the code you are writing and how to write tests while developing applications. Get certified to improve your chances of getting hired.”
With his passion for problem-solving, commitment to digital transformation, and focus on empowering both employees and residents, Ndhlovu represents the innovative spirit driving the City of Windhoek’s ICT department forward.