18 Dec 2025

Government has introduced a draft Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) policy for public consideration and endorsement signaling, commitment to safeguarding a vital aspect of national heritage.
The draft policy aims to embed IKS fully into sustainable development planning and key features include integrating IKS into the national education system, preserving cultural diversity, and creating an enabling environment for its development and transformation.
Speaking at a consultative meeting in Gaborone on Tuesday, deputy permanent secretary for Communications and Innovation, Ms Lesego Thamae called on stakeholders to provide comprehensive input to help shape the direction of IKS development.
She stressed that collaborative effort was essential to ensure the policy remained inclusive, relevant and responsive to the needs of the people noting that the current momentum for economic transformation presented a strategic opportunity to integrate indigenous knowledge into broader national development frameworks.
She also pointed out that the recent approval of two key blueprints, the National Development Plan and the Botswana Economic Transformation Plan, aimed to diversify the economy, foster social development, and enhance safety and security.
Within this context, Ms Thamae explained that the IKS was recognised as a vital resource capable of supporting industry growth, social cohesion, and good governance, particularly in rural communities.
She further elaborated that the ministry viewed IKS as a crucial asset for realising both social and economic aspirations.
Government’s commitment to fostering a supportive environment through responsive policies and legal frameworks was reiterated, with focus on empowering communities to acquire relevant skills and knowledge.
“This approach aims to enable communities to achieve sustainable livelihoods, preserve their cultures, and develop innovative solutions that support inclusive, resilient, and culturally sensitive economies.”
Ms Thamae stressed the importance of equipping communities with IKS-related skills to build human capital and foster equitable collaboration among IKS holders, scientists, and development practitioners.
These strategies are intended to serve as platforms to promote cultural diversity and social justice as fundamental elements of sustainable development.
She acknowledged that the efforts were pertinent in the context of the digital revolution which presented both opportunities and challenges for IKS transformation.
Highlighting the role of digital technologies, she noted that they could significantly aid in documenting, preserving, and archiving IKS.
However, Ms Thamae warned that software development and digital platforms must be rooted in IKS principles to prevent misuse, biopiracy, and exploitation.
Ms Thamae underscored that safeguarding IKS resources was a collective responsibility indicating such resources were not only vital for social cohesion but also served as strategic assets that gave Botswana a competitive edge in an increasingly connected world.
She explained how IKS supported sustainable development through ecological stewardship, resource management, and community resilience especially in addressing challenges such as food security, climate change, and biodiversity loss.
Establishing the value chains, she said, could generate new industries, business models, and sources of raw materials, ultimately reducing rural-urban migration and creating employment opportunities in rural areas.
Addressing the intergenerational transfer of IKS, she called for sustainable approaches to documenting and transmitting traditional knowledge, languages, and practices.
She pointed out that globalisation and technological advances posed risks of cultural erosion, but deliberate efforts to preserve authenticity and cultural context could mitigate the threats.
In his welcome remarks, acting director of the Department of Research and Knowledge Business, Mr Abraham Mathodi highlighted the importance of indigenous knowledge to Botswana’s national identity.
He described it as the bedrock of the country’s culture, values, and traditional practices, playing a vital role in shaping how communities interacted with the environment, managed natural resources, and address health and well-being.
Mr Mathodi stressed that passing wisdom from one generation to the next was central to maintaining Botswana’s cultural heritage.
As the country continued its journey of modernisation, he warned against losing this invaluable asset. Indigenous knowledge, he explained, was not only a cultural treasure but a key resource for sustainable development, ecological stewardship, and social cohesion. ENDS