Government says the Digital Malawi Acceleration Project (DMAP) is transforming the country into a digitally enabled nation with expanded high-speed internet access, bridging the digital divide for rural communities, and digitising public services.
Information and Communications Technology Minister, Shadric Namalomba, said this at the end of a working tour of the implementation progress of the Digital Malawi Acceleration Project (DMAP) in Blantyre on Wednesday.
The $150 million World Bank financing facility supports the country’s digital transformation agenda by expanding digital connectivity, aiming to connect over 2,000 schools, 500 public institutions, and improving rural access to broadband, among other things.
Speaking after visiting some free Wi-Fi-connected offices and public places, including the Blantyre Market and Blantyre National Library, Minister Namalomba said it was encouraging that the project is bearing fruit.
He said by the end of the project in 2030, about 80% of the country’s population should have access to free internet connectivity.
“What I have seen is encouraging, as people are able to access the internet in several public spaces in Blantyre. However, I am not impressed with the kind of support that the Ministry of Information is rendering to this project. This is the case because several people are not aware of the places where they can access free Wi-Fi. For this reason I have directed officers at my ministry to publicise this project,” said Namalomba.
In Blantyre Market, buyers and sellers can connect to free Wi-Fi.
One of the chairpersons for Blantyre Market, Stevie Majawa from Chemusa Township, said the development is a business booster.
“We have been making sales these days because customers know that once they come and buy to us, they will (have) access (to) free internet. Our business is growing as well since we are able to advertise and sell our products online,” said Majawa.
Another beneficiary of the Digital Malawi Acceleration Project is a Blantyre-based youth-led software company, Rydberg Starck.
The company’s Programmes Manager, Cathberg Magawa, described the project as a game-changer, noting that so far the company is developing operating systems for several clients in the country.
“Now we are able to offer our services to the government and several corporate companies in the country. We started with three people, but now we have 11 employees, and we offer internship services to students from various universities,” Magawa said.
The Digital Malawi Project started in 2019.
It comprises four components: the affordable broadband and secure data hosting, high-impact digital services, productive digital usage, secure digital government platforms, and project management and institutional strengthening.
The Public Private Partnership Commission serves as the lead implementing agency.
