At the heart of the Kalahari desert, a discreet country is quietly charting a new course. Away from the spotlight, Botswana, long seen as a model of stability in Africa, is rewriting its economic destiny. But this time, it is neither gold nor diamonds leading the way. It is digital technology.
From diamonds to data: a strategic transition
Since its independence in 1966, Botswana has built an enviable reputation thanks to its diamond resources. For decades, these precious stones represented more than 80% of national exports. But behind this success, a growing concern emerged: how to survive the gradual depletion of mineral resources?
“We understood that our dependence on diamonds was a weakness, not a strength,” says Thapelo Moagi, economic advisor at the Ministry of Finance. “We had to anticipate the post-diamond era. And digital technology presented itself as the obvious answer.”
In 2020, the government launched the “Digital Botswana” strategy, an ambitious plan aimed at transforming the country into a digital economy by 2036. The goal: to create new growth drivers, foster local innovation and attract international technology investments.
Gaborone, a capital transforming itself
In the streets of Gaborone, the signs of change are visible. New technology incubators have emerged, such as the Botswana Innovation Hub, a state-of-the-art centre nestled on the outskirts of the city. Inside, young coders, engineers and entrepreneurs work on projects ranging from artificial intelligence to fintech.
“Five years ago, nobody talked about start-ups here,” says Naledi Kgosi, founder of the e-health platform MedTech Africa. “Today, we have hackathons every month, investors coming from Nairobi or London, and a real tech community taking shape.”
The government is actively supporting this momentum. Tax exemptions have been put in place for digital companies, and a public-private venture capital fund has been launched to support local start-ups. In 2023, more than 150 start-ups were created in the country, a historic record.
Digital training on a large scale
But to build a digital economy, you first need to train a population ready to drive it. Botswana has therefore invested massively in technology education. From primary school, children learn the basics of coding and algorithmic thinking.
“We introduced computer science as a compulsory subject from middle school onwards,” explains Mpho Dintwe, director of the digital education department. “The idea is to create a generation that thinks in digital language.”
At the University of Botswana, new programmes in cybersecurity, data science and blockchain have been launched. At the same time, continuing education programmes allow adults to retrain or acquire new skills. In three years, more than 30,000 citizens have completed these training courses.
Public services going digital
The transformation does not stop at the private sector. The state itself is digitalising at great speed. In 2022, Botswana launched its eGov portal, which allows citizens to access more than 200 administrative services online: passport applications, tax payments, business registration…
“Before, you sometimes had to queue for hours to renew a document,” recalls Keitumetse Molefe, an entrepreneur from Francistown. “Today, I do everything from my phone. It’s an enormous time-saver.”
This digitalisation has also helped combat corruption and improve transparency. According to Transparency International, Botswana is now the best-ranked African country in terms of electronic governance.
A bridge towards digital southern Africa
Botswana does not only want to transform itself from within. It also aspires to become a regional digital hub. Its strategic geographical position, at the crossroads of southern Africa, makes it an ideal candidate to host data centres and cloud infrastructure.
In 2023, Amazon Web Services announced the opening of a data centre in Gaborone, a first in southern Africa. Other giants such as Huawei and Liquid Intelligent Technologies have also invested in the country.
“We want to be the digital gateway to the region,” states Boitumelo Sebele, head of technology investments at Botswana Investment and Trade Centre. “Our political stability and attractive legal framework are major assets.”
Challenges remain numerous
Despite these advances, the road ahead remains fraught with obstacles. Internet access, particularly in rural areas, remains limited. Only 57% of Botswanan households have a stable connection, according to 2023 figures. Furthermore, the digital divide between urban youth and older or rural populations persists.
“Digital technology must not widen inequalities, but reduce them,” warns Dr. Lesego Phiri, sociologist at the University of Maun. “We must ensure that no one is left behind.”
Another challenge: cybersecurity. With the rise of digital technology, cyberattacks are multiplying. The government recently created a national cybersecurity agency, but human and technical resources remain limited.
Finally, dependence on foreign expertise sometimes hampers the development of local solutions. Many technology projects are still designed abroad, due to insufficient skills on the ground.
Botswana is moving forward, certainly, but with measured steps.
As the world digitalises at great speed, this small landlocked country, once silent, is trying to make its voice heard in the global digital concert. It remains to be seen whether this voice will be strong enough, clear enough, to carry a new, sustainable and inclusive economic model. And whether, beyond diamonds, Botswana will manage to make its ideas shine.
