CTO/05
2026
Advancing a People-Centred Digital Future
REFLECTIONS ON THE 64TH CTO COUNCIL MEETING AND COMMONWEALTH DIGITAL ROADSHOW IN LESOTHO
BY IRENE NAKAGGWA
From 20–24 April 2026, the Kingdom of Lesotho hosted the 64th Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) Council Meeting alongside the Commonwealth Digital Roadshow in Maseru, placing the country at the centre of global conversations on digital policy and development. The week-long convening brought together Commonwealth Member States, ICT development partners, regulators, industry leaders, and innovators to strengthen collaboration around inclusive, secure, and sustainable digital transformation. Held during the CTO’s 125th anniversary year, the events reinforced the Organisation’s longstanding role as a platform for policy coordination, strategic dialogue, and capacity building among member countries navigating increasingly complex digital landscapes. A Shared Vision of Speed, Transparency, and Cultural Identity The 64th CTO Council Meeting andOfficially opening the events, Lesotho’s Prime Minister, Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane, positioned digital transformation as more than a technological advancement, describing it as a key driver of public service efficiency, transparency, and economic resilience. Highlighting the country's ongoing digital reforms, he challenged government institutions to pursue ambitious service delivery targets, citing rapid online processing services as a model for future public administration. At the same time, he stressed that accessibility and affordability remain critical to ensuring that digital progress benefits all citizens. Lesotho’s Minister of Information, Communications, Science, Technology and Innovation, Nthati Moorosi, underscored the importance of ensuring that technological advancement remains rooted in local values and identity. She emphasized that innovation should strengthen communities rather than diminish cultural heritage, reaffirming that digital transformation must preserve the social fabric and human connections that define the Basotho people. CTO Secretary General Bernadette Lewis praised Lesotho’s leadership in hosting the event and reaffirmed the Organisation’s commitment to ensuring that digital opportunities remain inclusive and accessible for all member states. .
“ Digital innovation should strengthen, rather than replace, cultural identity and human connection, preserving the unique social fabric of the Basotho people." — Hon. Nthati Moorosi, Minister of MISTCI “
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