19 Oct 2023

For people to access Internet in a safe and convenient environment, without having to stand outside in the heat or take other ricks, there is need to create designated WiFi public spaces in existing institutions, Kgosi Bokamoso Radipitse of Tonota has proposed

“I believe this would be a more effective way to utelise existing WiFi infrastructure, whilst also meeting the needs of the community,” he said in an interview after the launch of SmartBots digital connectivity by President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi in Maun,

He said without designated space for people to access WiFi, they resort to spending hours in hot, uncomfortable conditions in order to stay connected, which was both physically and mentally taxing and could lead to health problems.

He said it was also dangerous as people may be vulnerable to crime, especially at night, when they are forced to stand outside public spaces.
to lead by example, Kgosi Radipitse extended an invitation to residents who accessed WiFi at the main kgotla to get inside the shelter rather than stand along the kgotla boundary fence.

On other issues, he said slow service delivery was no longer acceptable in today’s digital age.

“With digital connectivity, government services can be accessed quickly and easily, no matter where a person lives.

The days of waiting weeks or even months for essential services are over,” he said.

He said with SmartBots, there was no excuse for any government department or agency to fall behind in its service delivery.

He said Botswana was committed to leading the way in providing fast and efficient government services for its citizens through digital technology.

MP for Tonota, Mr Pono Moatlhodi remindeed young people to use technology responsibly.

He said SmartBots brought many benefits to communities, and it was crucial that such benefits were not overshadowed by harmful behaviour such as cyber bullying.

At a similar event in FRANCISTOWN, Monarch, MP for Francistown West, Mr Ignatius Moswaane said digital connectivity allowed users to share information faster and easier, adding that digitalisation would enable Botswana to transform from a mineral-based to a knowledge-based economy.

He advised residents to have the zeal to acquire information so to empower themselves with new skills and ideas that would enable them to be independent.

Monarch Primary School head Mr Milner Morapedi stated that SmartBots connectivity was an important initiative to students who were now ICT compliant since the introduction of SmartBots in schools.

He said SmartBots provided solutions in learning as teachers quickly researched and offered pupils relevant information timely, adding that learners also used Internet for studying and knowledge acquisition. Ms Thato Nkaila, a second year student at Ba Isago University said SmartBots was her source of information.

“Previously we had to rely on books for all our assignments, now we are provided with links and we get notes online even from home.”

She said education was now easy because of numerous websites providing information, and students accessed such at own time even when libraries and Internet cafes were closed. She said SmartBots provided a lot of resources for students to seek proper career guidance and achieve future goals.

Ms Shathiso Bakwinya, a beauty technician, said SmartBots allowed her to have direct contact with her target audience. She said she ordered her products online and was able to track them using the free internet.

She said her business had now grown as she constantly used the free internet to learn new skills, stay up with latest trends, and advertise her work online.

Cllr Morulaganyi Mothowabarwa of Donga said life had become easier ever since the introduction of SmartBots. He told residents that Batswana were now able to go to hospitals without necessarily having to carry their medical cards.

He said availability of Internet in hospitals made it easy for health workers to store patient data and access it across different health systems. He said SmartBots promoted computer literacy.

“People are now bound to adapt and learn how to use technology as it is now part of our daily lives”, he said.

In KASANE, Chobe residents were encouraged to utilise the free Internet services to access government and private sector services efficiently.

Speaking at Plateau kgotla yesterday at the launch of the village connectivity project, MP for Chobe, Mr Machana Shamukuni said government aimed to build a knowledge-based workforce through SmartBots, which facilitated digital transformation.

He said government’s vision was to connect the rest of Botswana in order to improve efficiency and ensure citizens could access services anywhere anytime.

Mr Shamukuni, who is also the Minister of Justice, said the project ensured that all public facilities were connected to high speed broadband. He said in the Chobe District, the project had been rolled out at dikgotla in Plateau, Kasane, Kachikau, and Pandamatenga and would be expanded to other areas in due course.

“This connectivity project is meant for you to access services efficiently and free of charge, so use it to change your lives.”

He said the launch was aligned to the rest of the world as it transitioned to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where developed countries had automated most if not all of their daily systems and operations.

In an interview, Kasane Primary School teacher, Ms Nkagisang Molatlhegi stated that digitisation was key to modern learning environment because most of the learning and teacher aiding tools were online.

She stated that the advent of technology had improved efficiency and productivity as teachers relied on virtual meetings, which could be held in the presence of learners, hence ensuring classes were not left unattended.

“We are also able to send parents revision materials even during holidays so that pupils keep their minds refreshed and teachers also communicate PTA issues online, all thanks to digitisation,” she said.

Furthermore, Ms Molatlhegi commended the introduction of the government employees e-payslips, where employees.

She said with the Internet connectivity footprint in many areas of Botswana, many Batswana would be able to utilise the opportunity to further their studies online without necessarily having to take a break from their full time jobs.

In her view, Kasane business woman, Ms Bose Thelang expressed joy with the village connectivity project, saying she had been its beneficiary through her daughter, who applied and got accepted by BUAN online without having to go to the campus physically.

She stated that her daughter accessed a SmartBots hotspot in Mathangwane.

The 63-year-old woman pointed out that her son was also deployed in the SADC Mission in Mozambique, and she was able to connect with him virtually from the hotspots, which she said helped break the distance barrier between her and her son. ENDS