14 May 2017

Preparations for the World Telecommunications and Information Society Day scheduled for Masunga on May 20 are at an advanced stage.
Speaking at the preparatory meeting on Thursday in Masunga, the director of the Department of Telecommunication and Postal Services, Mr Itumeleng Batsalelwang expressed satisfaction with the level of commitment and progress that the committees had displayed.
The director advised the organising committee to ensure that respect would be given to the visitors so as to leave a good legacy for Masunga. “Don’t ruin and embarrass the name of your village, please be good examples as you lead this committee and leave a good mark for Masunga,” he urged.

Mr Batsalelwang advised the committees to be transparent in procuring everything that was needed for the event.
Briefing the media, Mr Batsalelwang said the event was meant to increase global awareness of the advantages that ICT offered and increase its access to a greater percentage of the population.
He stated that in Botswana the day was commemorated in different parts of the country so as to bridge the digital divide in areas that were less developed. The director highlighted that this year’s theme: Big data for big impact was meant to leave a lasting legacy with a big impact in Masunga. Giving a brief on the girls in ICT commemoration which will also be held in Masunga on May 17, the Ministry of Transport and Communications programmes officer, Ms Ntebogang Mokgatlhe said 100 girls from the district were engaged in ICT training at Masunga Senior Secondary School.

She noted that the training, which was sponsored by Orange Botswana, had incorporated girls from pre-school to senior school.
Ms Mokgatlhe said the objective of the training was to encourage a girl child to develop an interest in ICT and further teach them that technology could be used everywhere whether in school, home and also to create employment. She further stated that as a way of leaving a legacy for the girl child, BTC had agreed to donate 20 computers and Internet connection for a year to be accessed by the youth including boys.
She revealed that 60 girls from secondary schools would be taken on tour to Francistown airport and BTC control and technical centre in Francistown to learn and appreciate the role of ICT.

As part of the buildup to the event, Mascom wireless will host a beauty pageant in Masunga on May 18, while Botswana Post will launch the Netball World Youth Cup stamp in Masunga on May 19.
The Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Kitso Mokaila will address a kgotla meeting in Masunga on May 19 as part of the build up.
 The event is expected to leave a legacy as companies have come forward to make donations of computers, laptops, tablets and a digital education kit to a school yet to be selected.
Minister Mokaila will handover the legacy project to Masunga business school. ENDS