By Sellah Singini

Lilongwe, May 16, Mana: Minister of Information and Digitalization, Moses Kunkuyu, has challenged stakeholders in the digital sector to involve people in rural communities in their digital conversations.

The minister made the call on Thursday in Lilongwe when he officially launched Digital Readiness Assessment Report, noting that 80 percent of Malawian population live in rural areas where they do not have access to digital services.

“If there is no connectivity in the rural areas, and if there is no affordability to gadgets, then the conversation ends with us here in town,” said Kunkuyu, adding: “4G and 5G network coverage is not expanding into rural areas: it's only in urban areas.”

He further said, for instance, if another a cyclone of the magnitude of Freddy hit today, learners in the urban areas could be able to attend classes using a phone while those in the rural could not.

“Let us make sure that these conversations are now expanding and including, those people that are in the remote areas, otherwise, we will always come here and look at a very beautiful report, yet with nothing to show on the ground,” He added.

The minister further said the government of Malawi is committed to empowering the youth, women, and marginalized communities to participate actively in the digital economy.

“We aim to establish innovation hubs that nurture start-ups, encourage digital entrepreneurship, and leverage technologies such as artificial intelligence to transform sectors including agriculture, healthcare, and public services," he said.

UNDP Resident Representative, Fenella Frost, said the Digital Readiness Assessment Report is “more than just a diagnostic tool” as it is a road map to bridge the divide between the current reality and the immense potential of digital empowerment in Malawi.

She said it provides a clear-eyed analysis of Malawi digital ecosystem, revealing the strength, such as the growing mobile money usage, as well as urgent gaps such as the need for affordable and accessible broadband in rural schools and clinics.

“Crucially, it calls on all of us, the private sector, public sector, as well as international partners and civil society, as well as universities and other academic institutions to make strategic investments in digital infrastructure, digital skills, digital governance, to ensure that no Malawian is left behind,” she said.

Frost further commended the government of Malawi for prioritizing digitalization as a driver of progress in line with Malawi's National Digital Economic Strategy, and Malawi 2063.