By Sheminah Nkhoma

Lilongwe, July 17, Mana: In line with Malawi 2063, the government through the Ministry of Information and Digitalisation is investing in crucial ICT, infrastructure, promoting digital literacy and skills development and fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors.

Secretary for Information and Digitalisation Baldwin Chiyamwaka disclosed this on Wednesday at Bingu international Convention Center (BICC) in Lilongwe where the Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority (MACRA) is holding an ‘Open week’ which is aimed at providing interactive forum with operators and consumers.

Chiyamwaka said the Open Week offers an opportunity for all stakeholders to collectively work together to foster a vibrant and inclusive Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector in Malawi.

“Government is committed in promoting ICT and has different initiatives in motion like the installation of free public Wi-Fi at various sites, such as markets and airports, and the development of the Malawi Interoperability and Data Exchange Platform (Enterprise Service Bus).

“A number of ICT labs are being constructed in community day secondary schools to promote use of ICT services and the provision of Wi-Fi internet services and the provision of Wi-Fi internet connectivity,” he said.

MACRA Board Chairperson, Bridget Chibwana said MACRA will continue with the open days to enhance interaction with players in the digital and telecommunications sector.

She said through this Open week, MACRA is committed to ensuring that its actions and decisions are open to scrutiny and that stakeholders have a clear understanding of regulatory requirements and processes.

“During this week, we will highlight key projects, innovations, and initiatives that are shaping the future of the ICT sector in Malawi. These include advancements in digital infrastructure, efforts to enhance connectivity, and initiatives aimed at bridging the digital divide,” explained Chibwana.

At the Open Day the regulatory authority interacted with directors, current licensees, prospective licensees, consumers and other players in the digital and telecommunication industry to highlight MACRA's mandate and key development projects.