12 Oct 2022

The Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of transport and Public Works responsible for infrastructure, Ms Halakangwa Mbulai says everyone should set their sights on a Botswana yet unseen.

Giving a keynote address at the 2022 PPC Botswana Masterclass seminar on Tuesday, Ms Mbulai said people should set their sight on a Botswana who leads the continent in the digital space as a high-income economy, delivering services to her citizenry.

“For us the reset agenda from a digital stand point enhances better living for Batswana and their environment and resources through accelerating the 4IR. Smart Botswana and Vision 2036 paint a vivid picture of what the current potential of our home can be in the continent and global rankings,” she said. Ms Mbulai said transformation of public service would also help deliver value to the citizenry

She said Smart Botswana goals included connecting the whole country in a citizen-centric approach from public service with no one left behind, provision of knowledge and tools to compete and build a knowledge workforce, build a trusted citizen experience integrated in digitisation, and co-create data-driven products and services for possible exportation into the rest of the continent.

Ms Mbulai said Smart Botswana envisions the best of what can be in their transformation journey.

She said Botswana Innovation Hub, PPC Botswana, national statistics office, Singapore, Belgium, Stockholm University and many other stakeholder partners realised the magnitude of the country’s potential as possible continent leaders.

“We are not without examples of what visionary leadership can deliver in a united effort from our most precious minerals for exports to services that have created new economic value frontiers,” she said.

She said the vision for a Botswana that leads the continent emanates from belief that accelerating digital transformation through digitising the industry, integrating ecosystems and sharing the skill set to the region and the rest of the continent we thus create regional markets for digitisation.

She said a smart society is attainable in current generation lifetime.

 The knowledge-based economy, integration of digital technology into all areas of the public and private sector that results in fundamental changes to how they operate and deliver value to the citizens, partners and employees will increase the quality of life and enhance our capabilities as a nation.

In his welcoming remarks, PPC Botswana, Head of Business Unit, Mr Tuelo Botlhole said smarter cities can alleviate Botswana’s urban challenges by delivering a higher quality of life and enabling economic growth through technology and creative thinking.

Mr Botlhole said, part of PPC Botswana’s strategy was to increase distribution reach in remote areas and use environmentally friendly products in manufacturing, which will drive growth in the long term. He said besides, the long-term vision of using green fuels and being carbon negative bodes well for growth.

He said Botswana stood to gain a strong position within Africa and the world as a ‘Smart Society’ which will result in improved quality of life for Batswana, business opportunities, and a governance model that engages better to serve Batswana.

He said “PPC Botswana is capable of being a driver in building these cities as we have done in the setting up of infrastructure”.

Mr Botlhole said research showed that a smart city’s main strategic element is sustainability to look for participation drivers, create better consumption habits and better energy management, and use renewable energies for the preservation of natural resources and environmental care.

He said PPC Botswana previously played a role in building some of the iconic structures in the country such as the Mohembo Bridge, Boatle Game City Road, iTowers and the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium.

He said recently it was reported that government was working on developing Francistown and Maun into smart cities, stating that this was a strategic move that would unlock new value frontiers in the two places, the economy will boom and there will be a lot of employment opportunities.

Regarding decarbonization, Mr Botlhole said PPC Botswana had also worked on a strategic approach plan, as they recognise the global threat of climate change.

He said they were committed to reducing their carbon footprint and to participate in the collective actions needed to address key barriers to decarbonisation.

He said their ambition was to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

The master class was held under the theme: ‘Decarbonization and building smart cities’. ENDs