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| HIS EXCELLENCY DR. MOKGWEETSI E.K.MASISI PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA. |
9th October 2020
SALUTATIONS !!!
Good morning to you all,
1. I am delighted to be amongst you this morning as we celebrate a significant milestone in the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) industry in our country. It is a privilege for me to be addressing you today as we recognize how transformational partnerships in the ICT industry can change the lives of our people for the better.
2. Distinguished Guests, you will agree with me that, in the globalized world that we live in today, information and communication technologies, more than ever before, have become critical tools for the development of any nation. Indeed, ICT enhances productivity in all sectors of the economy and as such has become a critical requirement for advancing our National Development Agenda.
3. It will also ensure that we achieve a knowledge-based economy, as espoused in our National Vision 2036 of which I am champion. ICT is undoubtedly one of the ladders through which some of the “quick wins” in addressing developmental challenges can be achieved. It is against this background that Government deems it necessary that all citizens should have access to the internet so that the ideal of “Leaving No One Behind” as envisioned by the Sustainable Development Goals, is realized.
4. The National Vision 2036 identifies generation, adoption and adaptation of technology and innovation as one of the imperatives of the National Transformation Agenda. We will leverage leading information communication technology (ICT) as a key contributor to economic growth and employment whilst also enabling an efficient private and public sector. To this extent, the provision of internet services will enhance creativity and innovation, and as such facilitate economic diversification.
5. Distinguished Guests, it is important to note that the use of internet has become a daily necessity in the lives of many people and organizations alike such as Government, the private sector and stakeholders as they use it for business transactions and networking. It is against this background that we made a pledge during the campaign of the hugely and hotly contested general elections of 2019 to ensure that the use of ICT in Government and the private sector is intensified. It is a pledge and it is a promise that we are delivering today. This pledge like many others that we made have now been transformed into Government policy. Government is committed to the automation of some services. For example;
• • The payment of old age pensions
• • Rates and other local charges and levies
• • Payment of utility bills
• • Payment of police fines
• • e-health
• • e-agriculture
• • And all forms of commerce
• 6. As we are gathered here today to launch the Gabz City Free WIFi hostspots in the Gaborone City we are gratified that the roll out of these hotspots will enable Batswana to make use of the available internet services.
• 7. Our commitment to achieve the 4th Industrial Revolution is demonstrated by, among other things, our inclusion in the World Economic Forum’s 2030 Vision Leaders Platform. The partnerships that we continue to form with global leaders and international high-tech companies will assist Botswana in her drive to achieve the digital economy and her transformational agenda. To this end, I have offered Botswana to partner with global leading companies and organizations so we become a living laboratory for 4IR. Agreement has been reached and citizens and their companies are at the center of this initiative. Watch this space and more will come, and yes we are going to rock Botswana.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
8. The consequences of COVID 19 have revealed that ICT and internet connectivity is no longer a luxury but a critical tool for development.
9. Botswana is committed to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 9 that promotes access to information and communications technology. In this context, Government strives to provide universal and affordable access to internet by citizens.
10. Our Eleventh National Development Plan (NDP11) recognizes that ICT can be used to stimulate economic growth and promote employment creation. Therefore, innovation and creativity will be the bedrock of economic diversification in our country. Consequently, some projects have been earmarked to improve the country’s ability to take advantage of ICT.
11. Distinguished Guests, as I previously stated when officially opening the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) in 2019, Government has identified ICT as one of its top priorities. As such, Government will extend the provision of internet to all villages across the country with the view to enable our people to participate in the digitized economy as well as bridging the digital divide.
12. Government has undertaken some initiatives that will improve ICT infrastructure across the country. The National Broadband Strategy is one such initiative that seeks to increase access to Information and Communication Technology, as well as to address poor and unreliable network connectivity in the country is one such strategy.
13. As part of the efforts to expand access to the broadband internet services, Government and the private sector have started rolling out the Fibre-To-The-Business and Fibre-To-The-Home project in Gaborone which will be extended to other parts of Botswana in due course. This is a clear demonstration of Government’s commitment to stimulate economic growth through the development of the ICT sector.
14. Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me at this juncture, to inform you that the GABZ FREE WI-FI initiative by the Gaborone City Council intends to provide free and daily Wi-Fi for one hour per user in some public areas in Gaborone. The first phase of this project entails the installation of Wi-Fi Hotspots in ten (10) public spaces in the city of Gaborone. These places were selected because they have already been provided with the requisite infrastructure in the form of fibre networks as we have promised.
15. It is important to underscore that the WIFI hotspots will go a long way in improving service delivery and the livelihoods of the residents of Gaborone. Some of the services which will be made available on this platform include company registration and tax services. Other Government agencies will fast track the process of placing their services online so that they can be easily be accessed through these hotspots.
16. However, I am pleased to note that the Gaborone City Council is working on having most of its services paid online. These platforms will afford Gaborone residents the opportunity to have remote access to some council services without the need to travel to contest the roads and risk their lives, including protecting their lives from the threat of COVID 19.
17. In conclusion, ICT should inspire creativity and innovation which will transform Gaborone and other urban centres into smart cities. Botswana is one of the fastest urbanising countries in Africa. This presents to us, an opportunity for ICT to thrive and for our people to come up with innovative solutions that will address our modern day challenges.
18. Allow me to extend a challenge to the business community. Surely it makes good business returns if you could provide free internet access to your tenants and clients. This will make working and living in Gaborone
19. Allow me Ladies and Gentlemen to take this proud moment to officially launch the Gabz City Free Wi-Fi platform.
PULA!!!