23 Sep 2026

The Ministry of Communications and Innovation is addressing persistent government system downtime by migrating the entire government system in to the data centre certified in 2025.

Addressing Kanye District councillors on Monday, The Minister of Communications and Innovation, Mr David Tshere said government had taken a decision to ensure that all government services were digitalised.

Botswana, he said, had a data centre, dubbed as Delta Digital Data Centre based in Gaborone, which its aim was to resolve system downtime through full digital migration to a secure government cloud.

He stated that the Digital Services Act of 2025 which had already been passed by Parliament and was in use, required that all services should be offered online by November 2027.

Mr Tshere implored Kanye District Council to align their services with the Digital Services Act established in 2025, noting that it applied to both government and private sector services.

Services offered by councils, such as refuse collection and hawkers’ licence applications, he said should be offered online.

He implored Kanye District Council management to prepare to maximise the government cloud system by budgeting for applications and setting up their systems.

He further added that they would be a new digitalisied national identity which would enable payment processing into the digital identity. He cited that it would assist Post Office services and be linked to the hMinistry  of Labour and Home Affairs system.

He said his ministry  had already begun preparing for the full implementation of the Act, indicating that there was a certified data centre in place, an indication that the country was moving towards digitalisation.

Regarding the closure of the Rural Industries Innovation Centre -RIIC, Mr Tshere stated that the mandate of RIIC was to improve rural industrialisation, and said so far RIIC had fulfilled its mandate. He stated that it passed the first and second phases of revolution from stone age, introduced tools in doing work, ventured in devising machineries such as milling and winowing machines, donkey carts. 

He said technology and innovation have since evolved and the establishment of the Research Council would help industries to align with AI-powered automation.

In response to the ministers’ update the councilors welcomed the Digital Services Act but expressed concern that some sections of the population might be left behind.

Councillor for Kgosing Ward, Mr Mosekisi Rangobana, said Botswana’s move towards digitalisation would particularly benefit the agriculture sector, which often experiences network outages. 

He indicated that technology would make service delivery and daily life easier for end users, but voiced concern that technology seems to benefit those in urban areas and major villages, while those in rural areas were often left behind. 

However, Councillor Themba Stimela of Molapowabojang expressed concern with cyber security in the advent of digitalising services especially scams and fraud practices. 

He had asked on the preparedness of the ministry on handling issues of cyber security.

Councillor for Lotlhakane East/Moreane, Mr Michael Mohutsiwa, expressed worry that people in rural areas still lack basic technology skills and risk being scammed when seeking help with technology.

Commenting on the issue councillor for Gasegogwane Ward, Mr Fithi Keeletlile, voiced concerns on abuse of technology especially members of the public and asked how the act would safe guard on such incidences. ENDS