The ICT sector is expected to shift from pilot projects to policy enforcement in 2026, with a focus on clearing the 100,000plus passport backlog and ensuring full operationalisation of government digital systems.
In an interview, ICT expert and former president of the ICT Association of Malawi (ICTAM) Bram Fudzulani said the Department of e-Government would be under immense pressure to onboard all major ministries, departments and agencies onto the Enterprise Service Bus for the interoperability of government systems.
“By mid-2026, the Digitalisation Policy must move from a document on a shelf to a lived reality where driver’s licence renewals and national ID applications and payments are fully online,” Fudzulani said.
He said the operationalisation of the smartphone local assembly plant would help shift from connectivity to content, creating more apps for government payments and digital agriculture. To enhance ICT uptake in 2026, experts are calling for appraisals of principal secretaries to be strictly tied to the Malawi Digitalisation Policy, measuring success by how many departmental services are available online.
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Fudzulani suggested that the government should partner with telecommunications companies to zero-rate all traffic to official government portals to encourage citizens to use digital tools. “If it costs zero data to apply for a national ID online, the uptake will happen naturally,” he said. Current Ictam President Clarence Gama said the outlook for 2026 is cautiously optimistic, but success will depend heavily on improvements in network stability and quality of service.
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He said it was crucial that the two main mobile network operators, TNM and Airtel, prioritise improvements in quality of service to ensure reliable services for both consumers and critical public platforms.
“As Malawi continues to digitise public and private services, ICT infrastructure is no longer optional—it is foundational,” Gama said. Other suggestions include removing VAT and import duties on entry-level smartphones, finalising incentives for local assembly plants and establishing AI innovation hubs to develop voice-based interfaces in local languages.
Gama emphasised the need for mobile network operators to invest in resilient and high-capacity infrastructure, strengthen regulatory enforcement of QoS standards and expand digital skills and cybersecurity awareness. In 2025, the sector recorded moderate growth, driven mainly by mobile connectivity and digital financial services.
Malawi had over 13 million mobile connections, representing more than 60 percent of the population while internet usage remained below 20 percent. Major challenges included the passport system transition, poor quality of service from mobile network operators, foreign exchange constraints and high costs of data and devices.
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The year also saw significant opportunities, including the launch of the Public Sector Reforms Information Management System in December and the Malawi National Single Window in May, which began integrating trade-related agencies.
