DPM COMMENDS ADVANCING DIGITAL

In her keynote address, Acting Prime Minister, Justice Nthomeng Majara commended MICSTI for leading on behalf of government the national digital journey, stating the aforementioned capacity building workshop as a shared national undertaking to enable Lesotho translates policy into realistic implementation.

“Having brought experts from as far as Senegal through support of United Nations (UN) will help in understanding pros and cons of digital journey based on technology and economy, so that we can make valuable decisions for the benefit of Basotho.”

Justice Majara said all this should be done with caution, bearing in mind risks associated with the modern concept.

She added that AI has become part of modern infrastructure to achieve economic growth, highlighting the criticality of the workshop in ensuring that the data centre becomes an investment for Lesotho.

Therefore, the DPM has called for adoption of decisions in that will explore challenges and successes from experts, getting insights of strategy, evidence, risks and costs, bearing in mind issues of water, environment, sustainability, skills, technology transfer and energy requirement so that effects of choices can benefit Basotho positively.

Information Minister, Ms. Nthati Moorosi said the AI policy sets out a risk – based, ethical and human rights based framework that is an AI policymaker, the blueprint for the compute component covering technical, environmental, Institutional and Financial design of a national data centre.

She further appreciated support Lesotho is getting from UN, saying she sees the five week long workshop as time to make decisions and commits to AI infrastructure for development.

Meanwhile, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Mr. Richard Ramoeletsi noted that the building capacity workshop aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) number 17, calling for inclusive technological development.

He stated that the national AI strategy and data centre blueprint will also go a long way in harmonising energy transmission, environment, education and foreign policy for shared national development.

In the same vein, UN Resident Coordinator (UN), Ms. Taija Continen- Sharp stated that as conversations on digital begins, issues of AI and data centre are at the heart of development. She expressed UN commitment in supporting Lesotho for the success of this exercise.

She alluded that AI is driving issues of economic sustainability as well as job creation, reiterating the importance of the workshop in this regard.

This event gained support of different stakeholders from members of the diplomatic missions such as Peoples Republic of China and USA amongst others as well different government authorities together with stakeholders.