By Duncan Mlanjira
Malawi has replaced South Africa as the 2nd Vice-Chairperson of the Africa Union Specialized Technical Committee (STC) on Communication and Information Technology (ICT) during the third Ordinary Session held from October 22-25 in Sharm El Sheikh in the Arab Republic of Egypt.
Minister of Information, ICT and Cvic Education, Mark Botomani, represented the Malawi at the conference which called on all AU member countries to build consensus on integrated connectivity roadmap, establish a continental cyber security guard and elaborate efficient communication strategies to bring the AU closer to the African people.
The session of the AU
“As a country, we should be extremely excited that we can be elected as second vice-chairperson of this very important committee of the African Union,” Botomani said.
“This position was previously being held by South Africa for the past two years but now all countries in southern Africa and indeed at AU level have entrusted Malawi to take up this very important post.
“What this means is that for the first time Malawi will have an opportunity to participate in discussions and adoptions of ICT trends that globally are at centre stage of society and consequently Malawi will have an opportunity to be considered for the projects and programmes which will be recommended to the committee.”
Poster announcing an STC summit
He said through Malawi’s participation at the top level, the country can expeditiously implement the projects that the committee shall be initiating.
“The Committee’s objective is to adopt strategies and action plans for ICT projects and program’s implementation at continental and regional levels.
“So, indeed Malawi will stand to benefit because some of these would be relayed to the African Union and given consideration in favor of Malawi,” he said.
Botomani being briefed during the ICT EXPO
in Lilongwe
“We are grateful to our President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika for sending a delegation to represent Malawi of which I was very proud to lead and consequently been elected for the post of 2nd Vice-Chairperson of this very important committee of the African Union committee,” Botomani said.
Last August, during the official opening of the two-day ICT EXPO conference held in Lilongwe at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC), Botomani had said Malawi cannot effectively forge ahead with its development agenda without putting up an appropriate ICT framework to support and accelerate various national and sector initiatives and interventions at all levels of society.
The exhibitions from various ICT firms
Thus, the Minister said, the government has adopted a national ICT Policy whose mission is “to facilitate an efficient, effective, and sustainable utilization, exploitation, and development of ICTs in all sectors of the economy in order to attain an information-rich and knowledge-based society and economy”.
He had said that was why the government created an enabling environment by establishing a fully-fledged Ministry of ICT with the mandate of providing policy direction and guidance in the production and dissemination of public information; coordinate and manage ICT development and services.
ICTAM president Bram Fudzulani
“Given the benefits and opportunities offered by ICT, it is acknowledged that Malawi cannot effectively forge ahead with its development agenda without putting up an appropriate framework of ICT to support and accelerate various national and sector initiatives and interventions at all levels of society,” Botomani had said.
He added that through the Malawi Growth Development Strategy (MGDS III), the Government has identified key strategies for achieving ICT and they include: creation of a conducive environment to attract investment in ICT infrastructure and services; Intensifying ICT research education and training in all sectors; and developing capacity to generate reliable and accurate local content among others.
“The Government will also continue with its programmes of narrowing the digital gap through among others the e-government programme which has the objective of modernising and improving efficiency of public services and the e-Legislation initiative which aims to establish a responsive ICT legal framework to facilitate competition, adopt and implement relevant regulatory frameworks including policies and legislations that can curb issues such as cyber-crime, intrusion and loss of privacy.”
Botomani: this is good for Malawi
He also said ICT Policy has the provision of tax waiver of import on computers and accessories to encourage the use of ICT.
At the same ICT EXPO, Information, Communication and Technology Association of Malawi (ICTAM) said the Reserve Bank’s financial & economic review report for the fourth quarter of 2018, indicates that the country’s ICT is the fastest growing sector.
ICTAM president Bram Fudzulani had said Malawi as a country is on the track as evidenced by its ICT’s growth rate of 7.0% in 2018 and 7.5% projected in 2019, compared to other sectors.
“This is where we draw our motivation and hope that if we join our forces as stakeholders; that if we work together and leave all our differences; that if we put behind our personal interests and put those of our country, we can contribute to the growth of the country’s economy,” Fudzulani said.
“Malawi as a country can achieve favorable ICT results at a scale, speed, quality, accuracy and cost not imaginable just a decade ago.
“According to the International Technology Telecommunications Union (ITU), ICTs can help accelerate progress towards the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Today, with the use of ICT, an Africa company can do business anywhere in the world with an internet connection — supporting countless jobs and opportunities for the African people.
“A mother in the village can sell agro-products to a family in America, advancing broader economic development. A laboratory in Europe can conduct field-changing research on hardware made in Asia and a software written in Africa.
“And students in Malawi and Middle East can learn together through videoconferencing — all showing the power of ICT.”
Fudzulani has said there is need to prioritize technology innovation as a country, not just adapting to technology.
When we talk of prioritizing technology innovation we need government invention on access to capital, policies, procedures.”