10 Sep 2024

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cybersecurity between Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) and the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCCRA) is a testament to WUC’s dedication to creating a safer digital environment and safeguarding digital landscapes and commitment to making cybersecurity a top priority. 

Speaking during the signing of the MoU between the two entities, in Gaborone on Monday, WUC Chief Executive Officer, Mr Gaselemogwe Senai, said this meant investing in the latest technologies, adopting best practices, ensuring that the organisation’s defences were as robust as possible thereby fostering a culture of security. 

He said this bold decision necessitated the transformation of the corporation into a centre of excellence and regional benchmark in operational efficiencies, and customer service. 

On another point, he said the transformation was underpinned by their intentional automation of operational processes and digitalisation of customer service platforms, hence the self-service platforms the corporation had created to enhance customer experience. 

“Government continues to expedite the delivery of innovative initiatives across the country. Each of us must be vigilant, aware and proactive as cybersecurity has now become a shared responsibility,” he said. 

He also said whether someone was in finance, marketing, operations, or IT, they played a crucial role in keeping the organisation secure. Therefore, he said they needed to be vigilant and report suspicious emails, links, or requests for sensitive information to the IT Department and cybersecurity teams. 

For his part, the BOCRA Chief Executive Officer Mr Martin Mokgware, said signing of the MoU with WUC was in line with the authority’s strategic intent. 

Mr Mokgware said the MoU would provide guidance on how the two organisations could better benefit from their individual and collective resources and expertise. 

“To us as BOCRA, the MoU is not just another initiative aimed at driving the realisation of our strategic intent, but an important move that is ultimately aimed at consumer protection,” he said. He said WUC deployed the use of ICTs in its operations, citing the extensive fibre network, use of telemetry, USSDs, Smart Metre Portal as some of the examples where WUC has deployed ICTs. 

Mr Mokgware said one of the areas that they had developed expertise in that could benefit WUC was in the monitoring of cyber threats. “Through our Computer Security Incident Response Team, we have the capacity to mitigate cyber threats and avert the loss of services or resources,” he said. 

The BOCCRA CEO also said they were delighted that they had come together to formalise working relations and agree guidelines on how they could leverage each other’s resources, expertise, and capacity. 

The benefits of this collaboration, he said, would benefit the wider economy. ENDS