Vodacom Lesotho through its foundation has on Thursday held a launch of the first cohort of the software developers to be induced under the company’s Software Factory hub programme.

At this launch, the Head of IT and Billing Mr. Sekoala Ts’ukulu said that the purpose of initiating this programme is to attend to the challenge of importation of software programmes that the country is faced with.

He said it is also to find solutions locally for challenges that are faced in the technology and innovations spaces.

Mr. Ts’ukulu however showed that with the programme they are aiming for finding ways which software developers can come up with ways that can help companies on issues related to hacking and cyber security.

On the other hand, Ms. Puseletso Thubela of the ministry of Information, Communication, Science, Technology and Innovation said that this is one initiative that the country will achieve higher economic standards as it is a global trend for countries to invest in innovation ideas.

She highlighted that more collaborations are expected to help Lesotho grow further in the technology and innovations space.

On behalf of the nominees in this programme Mr. Peiso Moiloa said that this opportunity came at the right time to them as it will be of better opportunities in terms of job creation and country development.

Software Factory Hub is a technology entrepreneurship acceleration programme that aims to capacitate local tech-start-ups on the use of emerging technologies as well as empower them on the digital business models and business management skills to enable them to serve the local corporates for any required digital solutions.

The Hub is a partnership between Vodacom Foundation, Vodacom Lesotho and Vodacom Financial Services. Each Cohort will see a group of 10 tech start-ups of software development Companies that will go through a digital skills training programme where they will be equipped with software development standards and guidance to rapidly build secure, customer-centric software.

The first Cohort is focused on DevSecOps, Open API’s and Mini Apps Frameworks and shall run from October through February 2025 at the end of which the participants will compete for the M100,000.00 grand Prize by delivering an action learning project.