Data is no longer a by-product of administration but a strategic national asset, a cornerstone of modern governance, digital public service delivery, innovation, and trade.

This was said by the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Communications, Science and Technology Mr. Kanono Ramashamole when closing a three-day data governance capacity building workshop on behalf of the Minister on Wednesday. Mr. Ramashamole said discussions held during the workshop have underscored that responsible data governance is not just a technical necessity but a governance imperative.

He said there is a need to emphasise on strengthening digital identity systems, secure platforms for data exchange, and payment systems as key enablers of inclusive digital public infrastructure. He highlighted the urgent need to reform Lesotho’s Data Protection Act of 2011 to align with international and continental instruments, including the AU Convention on Cybersecurity and Personal Data Protection, the African Union Data Policy Framework, the SADC Model Law, and the EU GDPR