1
LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK FOR MAITLAMO
1.0 Background
1.1
The Government of Botswana has committed to developing a National
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Policy that will
build upon recent government initiatives and assist in achieving Vision
2016. In keeping with Vision 2016, it is envisioned that the National
ICT Policy will position Botswana for sustained growth in the digital
age by serving as a key catalyst in achieving social, economic, political
and cultural transformation within the country.
1.2
The Government realises that in order to have an effective Policy, a
legislative framework must be put in place to identify and support the
initiatives to be undertaken. This report serves to review the existing
legislative framework in Botswana in regard to ICT and identify key
areas that will need addressed or amended in order for the Policy to be
implemented effectively.
2.0 Main Findings of Benchmarking and Best Practices Study
2.1
The objectives of the ICT Benchmarking and Best Practices Report,
produced during the development of the National ICT Policy, were to
identify Botswana’s relative level of ICT development and to present
examples of ICT usage that are producing positive effects in other parts
of the world. The Report, completed in May 2004, was intended to give
the reader a better understanding of Botswana’s place in the electronic
world, its strengths and weaknesses as a connected country, and the
methods that may be adopted in order to promote greater ICT usage.
Benchmarking, which is a continuous process of measuring
organisational performance against relevant and common comparators,
allows for the design of initiatives that are tailored to Botswana’s
specific needs and focuses effort on the areas that need it most. It further
identifies a starting point against which progress can be measured.
2.2
The Botswana Benchmarking and Best Practices Report examined seven
key areas that collectively represent a nation’s connectivity environment.
These areas include:
¾ ICTs in Homes and Communities
¾ ICTs in Healthcare
¾ ICTs in Learning
¾ ICTs in the Marketplace and ICT Sector
¾ ICTs in Government
¾ ICT-enabling Infrastructure