Malawi calls for Internet filtering

Kaliati: Not possible

Malawi President Bingu Mutharika has called on participants at the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization (CTO) conference that opened in Malawi’s capital Lilongwe Tuesday to come up with a resolution that will control internet communications.  

In a speech which delivered on his behalf by Speaking on behalf of by Minister of Labour and vocational training, Davis Katsonga, Malawi President said that there was need for the (CTO) to work on setting up Internet Exchange points that would regulate the flow of mails in and out side the involved countries.  

"We must set up internet exchange points so that local mail does not have to be sent outside our countries .In other words, mail designated for a recipient out side the continent does not have to pass through an internet exchange point," he said.  

However Malawian minister of Information and Civic education, Patricia Kaliati said in a later interview that it was not possible for countries to form the internet exchange points adding that there was no way governments could think of internet filtration in the democratic era.    

"The minister was not advocating for internet screening or mail filtration, he was trying to advocate for a sufficient mail routing system as you are aware Malawians are now sending more information to the overseas through the internet," she said.  

She said Malawi was currently improving its rural Communications networks but was quick to point out that this was being done cautiously as the government is aware of cyber crime that has become a world threat.  

"We are making sure that our people are protected from cyber crime as we know that with the development in technology new forms of crime are also on the rise," Kaliati said.  

Kenyan information minister, Samuel Pogsisio who is also attending the conference said there was need for African countries to work towards policies that will make communication easy in the continent.  

"For Africa to move towards development we have to ensure that there is conectivity. It is very important for us to communicate," he said.  

The forum has brought together ICT experts from the common wealth and is expected to end Thursday