Abstract
The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has transformed the way institutions and individuals interact and work in various settings. Technological innovations through e-government have paved the way for more accountable, transparent, effective, and efficient governance and service delivery in the Lesotho public sector. This study examines the challenges and complexities of operationalising e-government in Lesotho, utilising qualitative research methods to analyse the barriers and opportunities associated with its implementation. This study employed a systematic scoping review approach guided by the PRISMA 2020 framework. A comprehensive search was conducted across academic databases (Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and JSTOR), institutional repositories, and policy databases (World Bank, UNDP, and OECD reports). Additionally, government websites and grey literature (including laws, policy documents, and consultancy reports) were included to capture practice-based evidence. The study established that while Lesotho has made progress in digitising some public services, systemic inefficiencies, funding constraints, and weak regulatory frameworks, among others, hinder full-scale operationalisation. Ultimately, the study underscores the need for multi-stakeholder collaboration, capacity-building initiatives, and adaptive policy reforms to realise the transformative potential of e-government in improving public service delivery and governance transparency.