• Government meets Vodafone Egypt and Vodacom executives as part of broader group-level digital discussions
• Talks focus on infrastructure, e-government systems and regulatory alignment
• Engagement signals Lesotho’s interest in Vodafone Group’s cross-market digital capabilities

Lesotho’s government is stepping up efforts to digitise public services following talks with telecom operators Vodacom and Vodafone Egypt held on February 16, 2026. The delegation included Vodafone Egypt CEO Mohamed Abdallah and executives from Vodacom International Markets and Vodacom Lesotho who paid a courtesy visit to Hon. Nthati Moorosi, Minister of MICSTI. Issues raised centred around expanding broadband coverage, strengthening digital infrastructure, and deploying platforms that would allow citizens to access government services online. The talks focused on broadband expansion, digital infrastructure, regulatory alignment, and potential support for e-government platforms and digital identification systems.

Rather than replacing local operators, the meeting reflected coordination within the wider Vodafone Group structure, which holds interests across multiple African telecom markets, including Egypt and Kenya. The talks positioned Lesotho within a broader corporate ecosystem, exploring what technical capacity, digital platforms and operational experience the group can bring to support national reform.

At the centre of the discussions was how to expand broadband reach, strengthen digital infrastructure, and move more government services online, from identification systems to payment platforms and administrative workflows. Officials also examined regulatory alignment and institutional capacity, recognising that digital transformation requires not only infrastructure but also governance reform and skills development. Mohamed Abdallah said the discussions were aimed at “accelerating the government’s digitisation agenda” and reinforcing “our shared ambition for an inclusive digital future for all.”

Lesotho has in recent years launched a National Digital Transformation Strategy and expanded e-government infrastructure projects to improve service delivery, connectivity, and digital skills. Internet penetration remains below half of the population, with rural access and affordability continuing to pose challenges. The latest engagement positions Lesotho within a broader corporate dialogue with Vodafone subsidiaries to assess technical expertise, digital platforms, and operational models available across the group’s international markets. Officials discussed public-private partnership frameworks, capacity building for government institutions, and long-term coordination to support sustainable digital development.

By Cynthia Ebot Takang