The United Kingdom government, through the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO), has pledged to assist Botswana to develop a National Cybersecurity Strategy.

The strategy is expected to establish a national cybersecurity policy framework, develop and harmonise appropriate legislations to address the cybersecurity challenges, create capacity building and public awareness on cyber security issues, and establish a National Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT).

Botswana's Minister of Transport and Communications, Tshenolo Mabeo has called for the strengthening of cyberspace security because, as he claims, this resource facilitates economic and social interaction and 'is a force to be reckoned with'.

"It is very important that we jealously guard the safety, security and resilience of the cyberspace, so that we can enjoy its socio-economic benefits," Mabeo said.

He added that the evolution and use of the cyberspace on shared principles, norms and procedures as an open access system is one of the greatest innovations that mankind has ever experienced.

"The open access and non-discriminatory principles allow the communities to freely communicate without any fear in the cyberspace and allows them to communicate and access markets globally."

Mabeo said maintaining pluralism and open access principle, while steering away from breaches of privacy and infringements of intellectual property rights, remains a challenge.

"I believe that all democratic governments must jealously guard against erosion of this principle by avoiding filtering and blocking of internet access," Mabeo said, adding that his government applies light regulations on the internet to ensure the resource remains open and a public forum for freedom of expression.

Mabeo warns that the global internet society faces challenges of an increased extremism in the use of the cyberspace ecosystem which poses a threat to law and order, safety and security of nations.

"We have seen how the internet has been used as a platform for committing crimes, abuse, defamation, and to show extreme hate of different forms. These acts are very disturbing and causing a dilemma on how the legal fraternity can intervene for remedial action."

Mabeo called for international cooperation among countries to tackle global cyber threats.

"As developing countries we are battling with these challenges, where people are committing crimes in social media platforms under the pretext that their identities are unknown."