The Principal Secretary at the Ministry of Information, Communications, Science, Technology and Innovation Mr Kanono Ramashamole, held a follow-up meeting in Maseru with a consultant from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and representatives from the National University of Lesotho.
The meeting continued discussions from the Artificial intelligence Digital Academy session held on 11th February 2026, focusing on the development of artificial intelligence that can operate in the Sesotho language.
The key topic was the Sesotho word bank currently being compiled by the National University of Lesotho, which will be used to train AI systems so that Sesotho can be effectively used on social media and digital platforms.
According to Mrs Mathe Nts’ekhe the consultant from UNDP, the project is expected to benefit the people of Lesotho across multiple sectors, including social communication, health, agriculture, and everyday life.
In healthcare settings, for example, AI could serve as a bridge for patients who are not fluent in English, helping to reduce language barriers and improve access to services. Beyond its practical applications, the project is also seen as a cultural initiative that will encourage Basotho to take pride in their language, strengthening Sesotho heritage and promoting its continued use in the digital age.
Source: Department of Information, PR UNIT
