12 November 2023
Botswana has invested over $11,8 million to shift government services online. The goal of the digitisation exercise is to move 400 services online.
To date, 170 services have been successfully made available through online platforms, with the remaining quota set to be met in the coming fiscal year. During a press conference, President Mokgweetsi Masisi stated that digitalisation is a high priority for his administration.
All Batswana will be able to access services such as applying for national identity cards, education, and licences via digital platforms.
“Digitalisation of the public sector is critical for service delivery in a knowledge-based economy,” the head of state remarked.
Masisi stated that 170 online services had been developed and were being rolled out to the public in phases. He stated that the transformation to online platforms would improve the country’s human capital and the economic viability of the tech industry.
Masisi highlighted that P60 million was spent in 2022 and another P100 million would be spent in 2023 for the development of e-services. Another P100 million has been set aside for 2024. The government forecasts that an additional 140 services will be fully operational by late 2024.
15 local, youth-owned businesses have been hired to work on the project. According to Helen Chilisa, deputy permanent secretary in the ministry of entrepreneurship, digitalisation provides the country with an opportunity to develop jobs that are in line with global trends. She noted the exercise would empower the country’s rising number of digital businesses.
“The opportunity is right for the growth of digitalisation in the country, and we are hoping that more services will move online to create ample opportunities for our young people,” Chilisa said.
Source: https://itweb.africa/content/RgeVDvPREKAMKJN3
