Digital-ID in Botswana: Country Report

This report examines Botswana’s biometric digital identification (digital-ID) system, centred on the ‘Omang’ national identity card, which has evolved from a paper-based ID introduced in 1988 to a biometric platform incorporating fingerprint and facial recognition technologies. The significance of the Omang system extends beyond mere identification, serving as a gateway to essential services, facilitating cross-border movement, and underpinning government efforts to transform Botswana into a knowledge-based digital economy.

This research assesses the current state of Botswana’s digital-ID system, its legislative framework, and operational implementation against established rule of law, rights-based, and risk-based tests. Through this evaluation, the report identifies strengths and vulnerabilities in the system’s design and governance, examining how effectively it balances security considerations with citizens’ rights to privacy, inclusion, and non-discrimination. The analysis proceeds through five interconnected sections: examining the historical ID landscape in Botswana, applying rule of law tests to assess legal foundations, employing rights-based tests to evaluate human rights implications, using risk-based tests to identify and assess governance of potential harms, and concluding with findings and recommendations for improvement.