19 Sep 2013

Nteletsa is a Setswana word which means “call me,” and it is under this context that government partnered with the Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) to bridge the communication gap between rural areas and other parts of the world.

Simply named Nteletsa, the project is a Rural Infrastructure Development Programme aimed at providing access to information in rural areas as well as stimulating job creation to lessen the impact of rural-urban migration.

After the first phase of the project, which started in 1999, experienced some faults as a result of challenges such as theft of solar panels and batteries, the second phase was launched in 2010. Habu, a small village lying 18 kilometres from the Gumare-Sehithwa road, is one of the areas that has benefitted from this multi-million pula project.

Operating alongside the Kitsong centre, Nteletsa offers internet, fax, photocopying, typing, cellphone charging as well as printing services. Even though the villagers decry poverty and unsuccessful government programmes, Nteletsa seems to be one of their success stories.

“We have a satisfactory clientele because of the primary school and the members of the public. Business is usually high around examination time because that is when typing and photocopying of exam papers is done,” explains Ms Mofine Mosiamiemang as she turns to sell airtime to an elderly customer. Armed with two computers, printer, and fax/photocopying machine which are operated by solar generated electricity, the centre is a life saver for the old and young as evidenced by the different people who keep coming for services during the short interview. 

“Ba re thusitse ka gore re reka di units gaufi ebile re charger di phone ka P3 hela,”remarks Ms Ogomoditse Gababonwe, an old woman who has come to recharge her phone through the e-recharge service. Before the introduction of Nteletsa in their village, Ms Gababonwe says they used to access airtime only when they went to Maun, which is more than 200 kilometres away.

As for the cellphones, they were charged P5 by those who had solar panels in the village, a cost which the centre has reduced by almost half.

“Le rona basadibagolo ba re sena madi re kgona go tisa di phone ka gore ga go ture,” she says as she walks away, peering at through her phone as if to check if the airtime has been successfully loaded.  However, the attendant, Ms Mosiamiemang, who has worked at the centre since it was established in August 2011, explains that other advanced services such as the internet are only utilized by government officials and young people in search of job opportunities and need the internet for their everyday lives.

They had to let people buy their own airtime for internet usage after members of the public complained that the P6 per 15 minutes price tag was too much. This arrangement had also proved to be expensive for the centre, hence a mutual agreement was reached.

Apart from the minor setbacks such as expensive cartridges for the machines, Ms Mosiamiemang says the project is generally doing well even though she would not disclose the amount of money they make.

Even thieves have kept away from the centre as there has never been any break-in or theft. Even though proceeds from the centre could not be quantified as they combine with other funds generated for the Village Development Committee, business seems satisfactory.

“I cannot disclose how much it makes but it is generally doing well and we use the profits for different projects undertaken by the VDC.But we could be doing more if it wasn’t for the public officers who feel entitled to access Nteletsa services for free,” chips in VDC secretary Mr Kavenauua Muatjitjeja. ENDS