Debate Heats Up as Hikuama Supports Establishment of UB Software Hub

BCP’s Hikuama Defends Moalosi’s Proposal, Says UB Hub Would Strengthen National Capacity

Gaborone — Honourable Hikuama of the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) has come out in support of Hon. Moalosi’s motion calling for the creation of a National Software Development Hub at the University of Botswana, pushing back against Minister Tshere’s argument that the Botswana Digital & Innovation Hub (BDIH) already performs the same function.

He argued that while BDIH plays an important role in innovation, its mandate is broad and commercially oriented, whereas Moalosi’s proposal is aimed at establishing a dedicated Government-focused software engineering centre capable of developing, maintaining, and securing open-source ERP systems tailored for public institutions.

He stressed that UB has both the academic depth and the national responsibility to anchor such a project, saying the University should be a driver of state-backed digital transformation, not a peripheral stakeholder. Hikuama further warned that continuing to rely on costly foreign software erodes national sovereignty and misses an opportunity to build long-term local expertise.

He urged Government to see the motion not as duplication, but as strategic reinforcement, noting that BDIH and UB could collaborate, with UB focusing on core system development and BDIH supporting commercialization and innovation ecosystems.

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