Slow ICT policy rollout hampers sector progress

Gothataone Moeng | Friday July 25, 2014 17:02

Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee Odirile Motlhale told journalists that his committee has found that the implementation of the policy is still beset by challenges such as the challenge of universal and equitable access to ICT services by Batswana.

“There is extremely low access to innovative opportunities among Botswana’s unemployed largely youthful population.  There is limited research capacity as evidenced by extremely low citation of what could be the challenges or rolling out ICT’s following government approval of the policy,” he said.

Motlhale further said through public hearings the committee also found that there are inadequate high-level human resources to drive the e-Government coordination and facilitation of line ministries, adding that there is inadequate relevance and responsiveness by some sectors to the automation of services.

He said the committee has also found that Botswana is prevented from achieving its vision of making the country an ICT hub by its limited world-class facilities and programmes adding that Botswana is missing the opportunity to use ICT to use FDI.

Motlhale said during the public hearing BOCCIM stated that the envisaged implementation of eGov presents an opportunity to address youth empowerment and unemployment.

“This is only possible if recommendations made by the sector in the [Citizen Economic Empowerment] policy and submitted through its sub-HLCC are implemented, such as making it a requirement that every national and international company engaged to implement an eGOv solution has a percentage of youth and citizen companies as part of the implementation team,” he said.

According to Motlhale BOCCIM has asserted that ICT can contribute immensely to the country’s gross domestic product. “The ICT sector is more than ready to drive ICT and have it contribute to the country’s GDP.  ICT solutions are available locally and through global partnerships.  The sector awaits to partner with government to implement the Maitlamo Policy and eGOV as these will impact on key aspects of the economy,” he said.

The Parliamentary Committee is expected to present its findings and recommendations to Parliament before the end of this winter session.