By Tawina Kuluweya

Mzuzu, March 6, Mana: Director General for Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA), Daudi Suleman, has called upon all Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and other stakeholders in the country to join in conducting digital rights and cybersecurity awareness programs.

Suleman made the remarks on Wednesday in Mzuzu during a digital rights workshop that was aimed at educating CSOs on digital rights.

He said Malawi's digital space is moving very fast but there is lack of explicit recognition of digital rights and laws and there is a need for CSOs and other stakeholders to join in disseminating information about digital rights and laws.

"Digital literacy and awareness remains a big gap, so there is need to engage a number of stake holders and CSOs so that we move together as we move towards consolidating digital rights to individuals who are using the internet in Malawi," he noted.

Suleman also added that the level of internet penetration in Malawi is very fast and there is a need to observe safety measures because we are more exposed to threats.

Executive Director for Gender Governance Institute, Taonga Kaira, hailed MACRA for educating CSOs and directly engaging them in raising awareness about digital rights and emphasized on the importance of involving the CSOs saying they reach diverse areas.

"We CSOs work in different areas that MACRA on its own cannot manage to reach, so engaging us is very important as it will help in spreading messages about digital rights and laws everywhere," said Kaira.

Kaira said that there is a need to make law reforms, as laws of Malawi do not roughly deal with cyberbullies.

She also added that most people are not conversant with digital laws hence CSOs should work hard in disseminating the information about digital rights and cybersecurity so that people should be aware of these laws.

"We have the Cybersecurity Act which has been there since 2016 which most people are not aware of and they end up committing these cybercrimes. That is why as CSOs we need to come in and work hand in hand with MACRA on sensitizing people about these laws," Kaira said.