19 May 2025

The National Broadband Strategy acknowledges and addresses the gender inequality in Information, Communications Technology (ICT).

The strategy, Assistant Minister of Communications and Innovation, Mr Shawn Ntlhaile said included initiatives aimed at bridging the gap, such as creating the SmartBots programme, which focused on developing a Digital Business Package for women entrepreneurs and supporting women in the digital economy through digital skills programmes, business support and innovation capacity.

He said this at the World Telecommunications and Information Society Day (WTISD) and the 160^th anniversary of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Hukuntsi on Saturday.

While acknowledging the progress that Botswana had made in achieving gender equality within the context of digital transformation, he said there was need to also recognise that there were gaps that needed to be addressed.

Specifically, he said, there was need to develop targeted policies and programmes focused on gender mainstreaming to ensure that all citizens, regardless of gender or social status, had equal access to digital services in our newly digitalised Botswana. 

With the event held under the theme: Gender Equality in Digital Transformation, he said theme did not only reflects the International Telecommunications and Information aspirations toward gender equality but it also paid homage to the 30th anniversary of the women’s summit in Beijing.

“In 1995, more than 47 000 delegates and activities from around the world met in Beijing for the fourth Women’s summit, whose action plan was signed by 189 countries and has been guiding most UN member states’ gender equality and mainstreaming,” he said.

He said it was important that on the 30^th anniversary of the historic Beijing for the fourth Women’s summit meeting, the country should take stock of its efforts to attain gender parity and consider efforts to improve access for women. 

“Since that meeting, as a country, we have worked tirelessly to increase access to digital services for women. As a way of promoting digital literacy among young women, the country’s communications and digital services sector commemorated Girls in ICT during the past week,” he said.

Mr Ntlhaile also said the commemorations included digital literacy training for girls and young women, conducted by the industry partners and civil society organisations, aimed at fostering service access for women and girls.

He said it was through initiatives such as #eSkills4Girls, which was funded through the German government that continued to contribute to closing the gap between gender by providing capacity building on ICT to women.

“Government and businesses are not the only ones contributing to gender equality in digital transformation. The eSkills4Girls initiative highlights the vital role that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) play in promoting gender mainstreaming within the ICT sector,” he said.

He therefore urged all including private sector partners to promote gender equality in the industry, especially in the workplaces, for both employees and customers. 

“We should make gender mainstreaming second nature to us until we have achieved equality for all of our citizens,” he mentioned.

He expressed pleasure that there were initiatives in digital literacy and the promotion of STEM education for women and girls.

Kgosi Merapelo Tshweneyagae of Hukuntsi said Kgalagadi North District was still lagging behind in terms of telecommunications, more especially radio network.

He pleaded with the ministry to ensure speedy intervention, adding that there were many villages in the district that did not have access to radio networks.

“Hukuntsi District consists of 14 villages and most of them have challenges of proper roads, hence the need for communication network in case of emergencies or any challenges that may arise,” he said.

Kgosi Tshweneyagae acknowledged that the use of ICT had built a very significant relationship with other communities and also raised the country’s economy as more were using internet to market their products.

He cautioned against scammers who targeted unsuspecting individuals and advised users to be watchful and avoid such incidents.

“I wish to advise the public and the younger generation not to fear technology as it can accord them opportunities and also develop the economy of our society,” he said. ENDS