King Urges Adoption of Software Permitting Modification |
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Driving a universal information and communication technology access strategy in an environment with Lesotho’s uniquely mountainous landscape, small population and an equally small economic base calls for parallel development of support infrastructure before a noticeable improvement to the connectivity problem can be registered. King Letsie III told the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), in Geneva, Switzerland on December 9 it is these problems that pose a great challenge for Lesotho’s quest for a universal access strategy. Low ICT skills and awareness in general hinder progress in the proliferation of the sector, he said. The King said capacity building through transfer of skills and overall human resource development would greatly assist in addressing these challenges. Developing countries need to urgently develop the capacity to adapt computer software to their domestic conditions. “The use of a foreign language on software does not promote the use of computers amongst our communities, the majority of whom regrettably, have low or no proficiency of a particular foreign language.” The most readily available solution to the problem, he said, was the use of free and open-source software that permit modification and adaptations to domestic conditions. These should be promoted while research and development programmes are being accelerated. “We are aware of the potential of ICT in the betterment of the daily lives of our communities. This technology permits nations to compete equally in the global marketplace without the impediments of distances between their respective locations. My country remains quite eager to seize these opportunities.” There is a growing consensus globally that information and communication technologies can contribute significantly to economic growth and development. It is in this context that Lesotho reaffirms its commitment to an information society and fully aligns herself with the goal of a development oriented information society. King Letsie III said Lesotho strongly urged and appealed to countries represented at the WSIS to adopt the digital solidarity agenda to facilitate the mobilisation of resources for the inclusion of all in the emerging information society. “The challenges that we face to accelerate efforts to be aligned with the rest of the global society towards an information society look daunting without external assistance. We however take comfort in knowing that we have partners to join hands with us in this difficult task, “ he said.
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