A digital platform called Botswana Speaks has been launched by the Botswana Parliament in an effort to improve relations and communication between elected officials and communities.
The platform’s primary audience is the youth, who frequently express feelings of being left behind. Almost all of the constituencies were linked for the launch, which marked the beginning of an initiative aimed at transforming Parliament into a digital institution.
This initiative will surely contribute towards strengthening our democracy in terms of increased participation,”Vice President Slumber Tsogwane said when launching the project.
He said that Botswana Speaks was evidence of the importance people have on kgotla-based consultation.
According to the vice president, the platform enhanced the tried-and-true conventional kgotla consultation by utilizing new technology and giving elected officials 24/7 access.
Mr. Tsogwane stated that Botswana was committed to transforming from a resource-based to a knowledge-based economy by taking advantage of opportunities presented by information and communication technologies in order to ensure that it was not left behind as the world moved towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The VP said changing one’s mindset to embrace change and novel ideas was one of the Reset Agenda’s key goals.
Mr. Tsogwane claimed that by implementing initiatives like broadcasting and live streaming of Parliamentary proceedings and Botswana Speaks, Parliament has demonstrated its readiness to change.
He stated that such initiatives were in keeping with the nation’s larger digital ambition, which was described in the SmartBots digital transformation strategy and was built on the idea of leaving no one behind.
Therefore, he said, Botswana Speaks would serve as a catalyst for existing initiatives, especially the SmartBots village connectivity project, which aims to link over 500 villages to high-speed broadband Internet.
Botswana Speaks Advisor, Mr. Vasilis Koulolias, said that the platform was created in 2012 with the intention of bringing Batswana and their legislators together. He said that the initiative would enhance decision-making and share Botswana’s distinctive example of good governance with the rest of the globe.
The project was piloted in Boteti West, Nata/Ngweta, Maun West, and Ramotswa before being suggested for expansion to all constituencies, according to Mr. Mpho Balopi, chairperson of the Botswana Parliament ICT Committee.
According to Mr. Balopi, the platform will give every citizen and member of civil society the chance to take part in the democratic process and enhance government.
