Niël Terblanché
Namibia and Botswana hope to pave the way for a digitally interconnected future that will support sustainable economic growth and social development across the southern African region.
In an address as a guest of honour at the ICT summit currently underway in Windhoek, Botswana’s minister of communications, knowledge and technology, Thulagano Segokgo, emphasised the potential for Botswana and Namibia to create a single digital market.
He said that such a market would promote greater trade in digital products and services between the two nations and increase their global reach through shared digital infrastructure.
Segokgo reiterated that this collaboration could serve as a model for other African countries to boost economic growth by leveraging digital platforms.
The minister acknowledged the incomplete integration of many African economies, such as Botswana and Namibia, into the global ICT value chain.
He warned that to unlock the full potential of ICT, African nations must actively manage data as an asset for economic transformation.
“The exploitation of open data as a commodity requires managing data as an asset. This can lead to significant improvements in sectors such as agriculture, preventative healthcare, and road safety,” he said.
Segokgo said that Botswana has already made substantial strides in its digitalisation efforts.
The country boasts 94% mobile broadband coverage and a robust network of over 16,000 kilometres of optical fibre connecting major cities, towns, and villages.
“Botswana is connected to the global market through undersea cable systems in the Indian Ocean, further enhancing its digital capabilities,” he said.
He attributed these advancements to Botswana’s forward-looking policy and legal frameworks, which encourage foreign direct investment and facilitate digital growth.
Segokgo also stressed the need for collaboration between governments and the private sector in Africa to overcome challenges such as cybersecurity threats, which have become more pressing as countries embrace the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies.
“Botswana desires not to be left behind with the advent of 4IR. We are catapulting cybersecurity infrastructure to protect our critical national information infrastructure,” he stated while stressing the importance of safeguarding digital assets for national security and economic stability.
Reflecting on the summit’s theme, Segokgo called for practical outcomes from the discussions. He urged participants to focus on digital transformation across all sectors, particularly those traditionally slow to adopt technological advancements.
Through these efforts, Segokgo envisioned increased productivity, job creation, and opportunities for marginalized communities.
“Let us deliberate with the strategic objective of accomplishing clear outcomes that will lead to true transformation over the next few years,” he said.
The summit serves as a vital platform for Namibia and Botswana to deepen their digital cooperation. Segokgo’s call for a unified digital market between the two countries is seen as a significant step towards strengthening regional ties and positioning both nations as leaders in Africa’s digital economy.
The eighth National ICT Summit brought together key stakeholders from across Africa to explore the digital transformation of economies.
This year’s summit provides a platform for discussing the role of information and communications technology (ICT) in accelerating development, enhancing cooperation, and driving economic growth.
The summit has established itself as a critical space for policymakers, industry leaders, and experts to share insights on how ICT can be harnessed to foster regional and global integration.
