By Pemphero Malimba:
Members of Parliament on Tuesday demanded the government’s intervention for improved network connectivity in the country.
This transpired during parliamentary deliberations in Lilongwe.
The MPs asked Minister of Information and Digitalisation Moses Kunkuyu to explain what the government was doing to improve network connectivity, including erecting new towers in respective constituencies.
The MPs included Kasungu North MP Mike Bango, Phalombe South MP Mary Mpanga and Thyolo Thava MP Mary Navicha.
Navicha asked for the erection of network towers in her area.
“People are struggling to access phone calls and internet, even mobile banking; so, I was reminding the honourable minister to consider the people of Sub TA Mlenga and Senior Chief Mphuka by constructing towers in their areas,” she said.
She said people in schools and health facilities were also hit by network connectivity challenges in the area.
She also sought clarification on reports that newly erected towers were being mounted with software belonging to one of the companies in the country. (Smartmatic).
“We cannot sit and watch while people complain; that is not right. The minister has clarified that the towers are purely for communication but we will be monitoring this,” she said.
Kunkuyu said plans were underway to erect new network towers across the country.
“We have sources that we do draw from the Universal Service Fund from the Digital Malawi Project. We aim to utilise these resources in the construction of towers in areas where people cannot connect adequately,” he said.
He said the government would also use resources allocated in the 2025-26 financial year’s budget for the course.
“Nowadays, people are banking online. We are accessing their statements online, sending or receiving money or making payments online so we want these services to be extended to all parts of the country,” he said.
“There are many towers that are needed. Currently we have funds from the budget and the Universal Service Fund. Network service providers also support the erection of the towers; so, currently we cannot disclose the number of towers that will be erected because we have to sit down and review how many will be erected based on the funds that are available,” he added.
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