Dimension Data concludes empowerment partnership in Botswana

Dimension Data, a global IT solutions and services provider, has today announced the conclusion of a citizen empowerment partnership in Botswana. The partnership sees Principal Investments, a group of local Botswana businessmen, acquire a 49% equity stake in Dimension Data Botswana for an undisclosed sum.

Southern African Development Community is an important region in Africa and in the context of NEPAD`s vision of achieving development and socio-economic growth throughout the continent.

In 2005, Dimension Data announced that its African growth strategy involved partnering with local companies. The partnership approach was adopted to enable the creation of strong local companies that would contribute to the long-term economic and social development of Africa.

"Economic and social transformation is vital for the development of Africa and Dimension Data`s African strategy is focused on ensuring both the growth of the company and transformation for the betterment of the continent. This growth will be realised by ensuring we partner with strong local companies that have in-depth knowledge and experience of local markets. Local companies will be able to utilise the experience and expertise that resides in Dimension Data, resulting in skills transfer and job creation," said Andile Ngcaba, Chairman, Dimension Data Africa.

Dimension Data is able to offer inward investment of skills and a strong knowledge base, resulting in skills upliftment, on the job training and best practice knowledge sharing, through access to a global network of employees. This combined with the local knowledge and expertise of Principal Investments will be instrumental in building a company to drive the transformation of the Botswana economy from mineral dependency to a knowledge based economy.

Commenting on the partnership, Lawrence Lekalake, Principal Investments commented, "This partnership not only affirms Dimension Data`s commitment to the Botswana market and to citizen empowerment but also offers the Botswana IT market a strong local player that can draw on South Africa`s technology base and global best practice through Dimension Data."

Managing Director of Dimension Data Botswana, Keith Marais added: "Dimension Data has been operating in Botswana for 10 years. Partnering with Principal Investments ensures we are better positioned to grow the company and also ensure we continue to actively contribute to the economic and social development of the country."