Going digital a must—Moses Kunkuyu
By Cathy Maulidi:
Minister of Information and Digitisation Moses Kunkuyu has called on players in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector to put citizens at the centre of digital transformation.
Kunkuyu was speaking in Lilongwe Wednesday during an ICT Expo themed ‘Building Business Resilience through Digital Technology’.
He said every aspect of life today has gone digital and that it is crucial that no one is left behind.
“The right time to go digital is now or never. You and I have experienced first-hand the devastating impact that unexpected global occurrences can have on our businesses and on our economy.
“The Covid pandemic has highlighted the critical importance of digital technology in building resilient businesses and economies,” Kunkuyu said.
He further said the pandemic disrupted global supply chains, shuttered businesses and caused significant economic damage around the world.
“But digital technology also provided a lifeline for businesses, allowing them to continue operating in a remote and socially distanced world,” the minister said.
Kunkuyu added that by building business resilience through digital technology, Malawi can create a more competitive and innovative economy that is better equipped to face the challenges of the future.
ICT Association of Malawi President Clarence Gama concurred with the Minister, saying the association’s own vision is to increase technology awareness in Malawi “so that no one is left behind”.
“During Cyclone Freddy we had what we call the digital divide where Blantyre-based affected locations were more visible than those that are on the outskirts.
“It is because we don’t have smartphones and social media access in those areas, which could have shown how the cyclone affected them,” Gama said.
The ICT Expo is expected to run from Wednesday to today.
It has brought together players in the ICT sector, who have mounted pavilions showcasing their services and products.
