Informed citizens vital—Malawi VP

Malawi’s Vice-President Khumbo Kachali says informed citizens can contribute to national development.

Kachali was speaking at Lupaso Primary School in Traditional Authority Kyungu in the northern Malawi district of Karonga on Wednesday when he opened a multipurpose community telecentre. Lupaso Telecentre is situated in Mwambanya Village, about 22 kilometres from Karonga Boma.

Kachali said in functional democracies such as Malawi, provision of information is integral to the sustenance and growth of multiparty democracy.

“The majority of our people live in rural areas [such] that access to accurate information, when they need it, has become part of the basic needs that we in leadership positions must endeavour to provide,” he said.

Kachali said with financial support from World Bank, government intends to invest K6 billion (about $20 million) to improve quality and lower the cost of Internet connectivity through expanded fibre optic infrastructure from the Indian Ocean to increase available broadband.

Minister of Information and Civic Education Moses Kunkuyu said information and communication technology (ICT) plays a vital role in the development of any country.

Kunkuyu said Macra has established 43 telecentres in the country to ensure that ICT is available even in rural areas.

Paramount Chief Kyungu called on the community to look after the telecentre to win trust and invite more projects in the area.

Government, through Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra), constructed the K70 million (about $233 333) telecentre.

The centre currently serves villages of Peter Mwangalaba, Mwakwama, Simon, Donald, Mwambanya, Sefu, Mwandosha, Mwentenga, Mwenitete and Lasha.