Government goes digital

Though it has taken a lot from us, Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) has accelerated the migration to digital platforms, Masisi asserted.

Speaking on the occasion of the Absa Hackathon and Incubation Programme Final Awards Ceremony, President Masisi noted the need to go digital. According to His Excellency the President Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, his government has already began going digital, he underscored;

“Furthermore, major initiatives have been introduced, aimed at improving the delivery of quality services through digitisation in different sectors. For example;

• The health sector successfully launched the e-Health Strategy for 2020 to 2024 in March 2020. The Strategy will improve access to healthcare; better patient outcomes; access to health information, as well as monitoring and evaluation.

• We are also transforming our education system through our digitilisation strategy and Government has continued to partner with stakeholders to support school connectivity and the provision of ICT gadgets.

• People can now apply online for customary law land rights.

• Government is in the process of developing a National e-Commerce Strategy to facilitate commerce across all sectors of the economy.

• The financial sector is also at the forefront of digitisation in our economy. Banks continue to roll out digital products and services and we have noted the rapid increase in the number of digital transactions.”

President Masisi says Botswana has embarked on the journey to transform to a knowledge-based economy. He has stressed that this requires that the country build people’s capacity and enable them to thrive in a digital and data driven economy. According to President Masisi, as the world is evolving and developing at an unprecedented rate, it is important that we prepare and adapt to the changes that come with it.

“The increase in demand for e-services over the past few years has demonstrated the centrality of digitisation and advanced technologies to enable the transformation and diversification of the economy of our country.”