The Ministry of Information, Communications, Science, Technology and Innovation (MICSTI) in Lesotho is looking to introduce the Electronic Transactions and Communications Bill, 2026, to address the absence of a legal and regulatory framework for electronic transactions.
The legislative initiative is a revision bill that updates and builds on the previous Electronic Transactions and Communications Bill of 2022.
This follows a two-day stakeholder validation workshop on the initiative this week, held in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to present the bill and gather stakeholder views, comments and recommendations before it progresses through the next stages of the legislative process.
According to the ministry, the lack of a legal and regulatory framework has created uncertainty for government, businesses and consumers, particularly in relation to electronic contracts, signatures , records, online services and digital commerce.
The bill seeks to address these gaps by providing legal certainty and recognition for electronic transactions and communications, modernising the original 2022 draft to better support the current digital landscape.
It builds on the National Digital Policy of 2024 and the National Digital Transformation Strategy 2024.
If enacted, the bill will support the digitalisation of government services, facilitate e-commerce and digital entrepreneurship, promote secure and trusted online transactions, and create a more enabling environment for investment and cross-border digital trade.
"Ultimately, the bill will strengthen the legal foundation for Lesotho's digital transformation and contribute towards greater trust and confidence in the digital economy," said Khiba Masiu, MICSTI's director of ICT, speaking on behalf of the ministry's principal secretary.
Speaking on behalf of the UNDP representative, Teboho Khoali said the ministry's leadership in advancing this critical legislative reform demonstrated a shared commitment to building a resilient, trusted, inclusive and competitive digital future for Lesotho.
He said the country needs a modern legal foundation that provides certainty, trust and confidence in electronic interactions if it is to fully participate in the digital economy.
"Together with the government of Lesotho, the UNDP is supporting an emerging portfolio of digital legislative reforms that seek to establish the legal foundations required for a modern digital state and digital economy," he said.
The draft bill will now be refined by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel.
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