Macra demands cyber security, Sparc hosts ICT conference in Malawi
Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) says there is a need for cyber security to protect the country’s ICT industry from attacks which create confusion and scares for both organizations and consumers.
Macra deputy Director General, Francis Bisika made the call on Saturday during the first ever Malawi’s two-day ICT conference in Mangochi dubbed ICT@50 Conference, which attracted various players in the ICT sector.
Bisika’s call comes at the time hackers have been infiltrating government’s internet hub, taking over all its departments’ website.
He said currently Macra was pushing for enactment of e-legislation and amendment of the Communications Act to ensure the ICT sector is well regulated.
‘’Issues of cyber-attack have been one of the challenges affecting the ICT sector; we need to adopt regulations to ensure there is cyber security. As Macra we invite all players to join hands with government in such initiative for the betterment of our nation,’’ said Bisika.
The conference under the way at Nkopola Lodge in Mangochi has been organized and funded by Sparc Systems Limited with the aim of finding solutions to the challenges facing the ICT sector, and the private sector has a say on issues concerning ICT in the country.
Sparc Systems Limited Managing Director, Wisely Phiri called on Malawians to start supporting local innovations in order for the industry to grow.
‘’People need to change their mindset about ICT. Malawians don’t support local products; we don’t support each other. The conference is focusing on addressing challenges derailing the growth of the ICT sector in the country,’’ said Phiri.
Phiri then called for the reestablishment of ICT Association of Malawi (ICTAM), which is an ICT body entitled to handle issues concerning players in the industry.
Dear Nyasatimes, This event was hosted by ict@50 committee who ICT individuals different firms. Sponsors were called to facilitate the event and Macra was one of them. Our firm, Neurotech along with others offered different levels of sponsorship. We sponsored this to the tune of Mwk.2M. It therefore wrong and unethical reporting to purport that this was a sparc event, attended by Macra. I have also noted with concern the hate and infighting in Malawis ICT sector which is purely a sign of xenophobia. Sparc is keen to drive this agenda, while ICT is global. There is no ICT Hardware… Read more »
As Malawi’s ICT family, you guys are just a venon-filled society. So far there are 3 comments with nothing but hate. Malawi’s ICT sector will not grow until such individuals wither out of the sector. Kenya’s ICT industry is where it is because it learns from bigger boys(India, Singapore, USA) and supports its own. Malawians on the other hand are busy killing their brothers’ efforts, however small they are. It’s okay to import and use Kenya’s products, but learn from it and grow. I say keep on Sparc, Keep on Daud Suleman, and Keep on the entire Macra team. We… Read more »
You guys want to support your own and have such hate for one another in the industry? You need to learn from more developed regions to improve. Kenya learns from India, Singapore and USA. But this personal hate I’m seeing in comments, Malawi’s ICT will forever be brought down by such venom filled Malawians, and Kenya will continue to grow and dominate the ICT sector in the region.
this ICT body will not last why??? there are too many stereotypes in ICT in malawi, IT guys fond of boosting to fellow IT professional about hwta they know, they have never invented anything koma kuphoza kokhako shameeeeeeee, that is why i didnt even bother to go to the workshop despite kuti nane ndine wa ICT, why ICTAM died is due to the same foolish reasons, and why it will not go any further its because the same people who killed ICTAM are frontrunners again in this workshop such as daudi suleiman, useless bunch of IT profesionals, the same professionals… Read more »
kkkk a conference of ICT vendors … busy reselling ICT products produced elsewhere and you call that an ICT industry in Malawi? kkkk Learn from Kenyans – they are producing hardware (laptops made in Kenya), software nde nanji… inu muli busy reselling these nkumati ICT sector in Malawi! Shame on Sparc and friends!
It’s called “slumming”, (spending time at a lower social level than one’s own through curiosity or for charitable purposes). Hackers browsing through Malawi govt websites looking for?