12 Apr 2013

This year’s Global Information Technology Report (GITR) places Botswana at position 96 out of 144 countries on the country’s network readiness index rankings. The country dropped seven places from 89 out of 142 countries last year.

Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Nonofo Molefhi said in Gaborone on Thursday at the launch of the GITR of 2013, that the drop should be a major concern for all parties being government, private sector and individuals.

He said the issue of access and usage of Information Communication Technology (ICTs) in Botswana remained critical and urgent given the need to narrow the digital divide by some countries, especially developing ones.

Mr Molefhi said the ICT industry had become increasingly important and now accounted for significant share of value-add to the countries’ products and services, as well as employment creation in most countries, stating that both emerging and developed economies were focusing on innovation, competing globally for talent, resources and market shares.

He said the report would provide decision makers with a useful conceptual framework to evaluate the impact of ICTs both the national and global levels and to benchmark the IVT readiness and usage on Botswana.

The minister said Botswana’s major strength was in the political and regulatory environment where it ranked 39, on the effectiveness of law-making bodies the country ranked 15 and 22 on the judicial independence. He said the rankings showed that government had played her role and therefore needed participation of business communities and individuals.

He said on the business and innovation environment, Botswana had been ranked 103 which was a drastic decline from last year’s ranking of 79 and on the availability of latest technology it ranked 93 and 133 on number of days required to start business.

Mr Molefhi said in terms of technological readiness, the country had not been doing well as it was ranked number 101 and scored 101 again on affordability, with the mobile cellular phone tariffs and 104 on fixed broadband internet tariffs and 112 on the internet and telephone competition. 

BotswanaPost chief executive officer, Mr Pele Moleta said the country should change from a normal working hours from 0730 to 1630 and introduce odd hour’s shifts to cater for people from other corners of the globe.

He said for business to thrive in Botswana people should know that when they go to work in the morning their business partners elsewhere are in the late hours of the evening and this trend make it difficult for businesses in Botswana to flourish.ENDS