The Minister of Homeland
Security says the country’s digital transformation must remove barriers and
leave no one behind, warning that no shortcuts will be tolerated in the
implementation process.
He said the
transformation should empower citizens rather than expose them, emphasizing
that the digital services being introduced will have no expiry date.
Mukhitho made the remarks
on Wednesday at Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe during the
official launch of the Nzika Digital Wallet, an initiative facilitated by the
National Registration Bureau.
Mukhitho disclosed that
the initiative is built on key pillars, including accessibility, efficiency,
inclusion and security.
Min. Mukhitho during the launch at BICC.
He further appealed to
development partners and the private sector to continue supporting the
initiative to improve service delivery and ensure its effective implementation.
In his remarks, Minister
of Information and Communications Technology Shadrick Namalomba said the
initiative is expected to transform the way citizens access public services by
addressing challenges such as long queues and unnecessary delays.
Namalomba said the
initiative will also complement government’s efforts towards achieving the
Malawi 2063 development agenda.
He further said Malawi
has already build a strong foundation as about 92% of people are connected with
4 G connectivity, 87% is connected to 3G and about 33% of people have
smartphones and only 12.5% are accessing internet services
On her part, United Nations
Resident Coordinator Rebecca Adda-Dontoh has commended the initiative, saying
every person deserves to be recognized and that personal dignity should not
depend solely on physical identification cards.
"The initiative will
contribute to greater inclusion by ensuring that more people can access
essential services through digital platforms," said Dontoh.
Meanwhile, the initiative
is targeting two million people, with more than 22,000 people already
registered.
