By Aliko Munde

Chitipa, March 25, Mana: As one way of increasing inclusive access to internet, Ministry of Information and Digitalization (MoID), through the Department of E-Government under Digital Malawi Acceleration Project (DMAP), says it plans to connect internet to 500 public institutions.

Speaking Monday when she addressed members of Chitipa District Executive Committee, Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Officer at Department of E-Government in the MoID, Jane Kwalimba, said the initiative intends to connect 2,000 schools across the country through Research and Education Network (MAREN)

Kwalimba said the two interventions seek to increase access to and inclusive use of the internet and improve government's capacity to deliver digitally enabled services.

“Under the Digital Malawi Acceleration Project, 500 additional public institutions will be targeted. This is to improve government efficiency, resilience and ability to sustain operations even in the face of natural disasters,” Kwalimba said.

Kwalimba said that 80 higher education institutions and about 530 institutions were connected to internet in the first phase of DMAP and MAREN respectively.

“All this is to expand broadband coverage in rural areas so that we achieve universal coverage of mobile broadband,” she said.

Director of Administration for Chitipa District Council, Clement Gonthi, said that the world is growing into a digital global village, hence the need for the interventions.

Gonthi said that increased internet connectivity will go a long way in enhancing public participation in public and civic affairs besides improving access to services.