19 Sep 2024

The introduction of free Internet in Botswana’s major cities and villages has been a game changer for Batswana, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has said.

Addressing a kgotla meeting in Tshimoyapula yesterday, the President said the development, was propelled by government’s intention to drive transformation across the economy by harnessing technology for optimum output.

He noted the strides made by government in accelerating digital connectivity by deploying ICT  infrastructure to over 500 villages to make life easier for the people.

He said the SmartBots Village Connectivity had been able to bridge the digital divide as public facilities such as dikgotla, health facilities, schools, libraries and major shopping malls have been connected to free high-speed Internet to facilitate uptake of government online services and access to information.

This, he said had also been able to provide users with an alternative to high data prices.

President Masisi said government would in the near future install high-speed Internet at Tshimoyapula kgotla to ease lives and enhance operational efficiency of businesses.

He said such a move, would position the village to market their products on the international domain as well as to have chat rooms, allowing immediate receipt of acknowledgment or reply.

The connectivity in the village, he said would accord residents the opportunity to gain access to wealth of knowledge and opportunities that were previously unavailable to them.

President Masisi also said Ditec, a Botswana-owned company that manufactures smart devices, refrigerators and microwaves was testimony that the country was making strides in technology advancement.

He also talked about the transformation of the Ramatlabama Artificial Insemination Centre to a facility for cattle and small stock reproduction technologies. He said it presented opportunities for value chains in various aspects such as semen and embryo as the centre would employ embryo transfer technologies to increase production and yield better quality.

Dr Masisi said the foundation of any livestock development programme rested in the presence of a scientifically sound and systematic genetic improvement programme aimed at improving the genetic composition.

Meanwhile, President Masisi donated a white Brahman and a feeding trough, 1 000 fish, three bee hives, a female and  male ducks, five does and a buck, five dorper ewes and a meat master ram to Tshimoyapula community.

The President said aquaculture and apiculture experts from the Ministry of Agriculture would assist the community with their expertise on how best to optimise output.

He implored residents to capitalise on the historical sites in their village which could be turned into tourism sites and in turn generate income.  ENDS