Orange reaffirms its commitment to digital inclusion and to the national digital transformation agenda.

Gaborone. The Minister of Communication and Innovation, David Tshere visited the Orange Digital Centre (ODC) and the Orange Botswana Data Centre, accompanied by a delegation from the Ministry and members of Orange Botswana’s leadership.

The visit brought together the infrastructure that connects Botswana and the programmes that prepare its people to use it, and opened a conversation on closer partnership in support of the national digital transformation agenda.

At the Data Centre, Gobe Mbayi, Acting Chief Executive Officer, welcomed the Minister. Data Centre Manager Tshepo Mongalo led the tour, which showed how the facility supports connectivity, business continuity and digital services for individuals, enterprises and public institutions.

The delegation then travelled to the ODC, where Modiri Nlanda, Director, People and Social Impact, gave an overview of the Orange Foundation’s digital inclusion work and the results of its outcome-based training (more than 9,400 people reached this year across 70 programmes, 57 per cent of them women).

The visit opened with the ODC’s outreach and training delivered across Botswana this year, including Borolong, Francistown, Selibe Phikwe, Serowe, Kweneng, Gaborone, and surrounding areas.

ODC Manager Obakeng Kokwe presented the ODC as one ecosystem that carries people from training to startup support and innovation. The Coding School builds software skills, the FabLab offers prototyping and fabrication, Orange Fab supports early-stage startups, and the Centre works with partners across the wider innovation ecosystem.

Supported by the Orange Foundation, the ODC is free to participants and focuses on young people, entrepreneurs and underserved communities. Senior Digital Embroidery Trainer Opelo Letshwiti presented a recent project completed with trainees and the Tlokweng Brigade, showing how practical digital skills translate into finished work.

The Minister also heard about the Orange Summer Challenge and the Orange Social Venture Prize, and spoke with ODC beneficiaries about their experience.

Minister Tshere acknowledged the work the ODC is doing. He noted that the Ministry can support it and help partnerships happen, and recognised that more can be achieved together. He spoke about the National Research and Innovation Council and the country’s technology clusters, and about how Orange Botswana and the Ministry can partner more closely.

Gobe Mbayi, Acting Chief Executive Officer, spoke about partnership and how Orange Botswana can do more with the wider ecosystem. He also described the company’s CSR work, including the Digital Schools Programme and the content it provides to schools.

Gobe Mbayi said: “Partnership is how we reach further. We see room to do more with the ecosystem, from schools to startups, and we welcome the Ministry’s guidance on where to begin.”

Modiri Nlanda said: “Infrastructure creates the possibility, and skills turn it into opportunity. At the ODC, we see young people and entrepreneurs build capabilities that carry directly into the economy. Through the Orange Foundation, we will keep investing in digital inclusion, and we welcome the chance to work with government to extend this reach across the country in support of the national digital transformation agenda.”

Discussions touched on closer partnership between the Ministry and Orange Botswana, and on extending digital skills, school programmes and ecosystem support. Orange Botswana reaffirmed its commitment to digital inclusion, and noted that through the Orange Foundation it continues to invest in work that supports the national digital transformation agenda. The visit concluded with lunch and informal engagement with the Orange Botswana team.