Kaliati likens traditions to analogue TV signal
Minister of Information, Communications Technology and Civic Education Patricia Kaliati on Sunday sent the gathering at the Zomba Community Centre ground into stitches of laughter when she likened some traditions to “analogue way of doing things”.
Kaliati was presiding over the launch of Kiliye Kiliye digital television which is aimed at moving Malawi televisions from analogue to digital system.
The minister told the gathering that moving from analogue to digital should not only be referred to television but other cultural issues as well.
“Even eating habits need to change. When you want to be eating nsima all the time, you are analogue. But when you eat other things like pumpkins or sweet potatoes, that is going digital.
“Farming only during the rainy season is analogue, but when you plant even when it is not raining through irrigation, that is digital,” said Kaliati, to the laughter of the audience.
She recalled that in the past, families could have as many as 15 children because that was the analogue way of doing things. She said now things need to go digital by having children one can afford to look after.
She also attacked men who beat their wives, saying it is the
analogue way of doing things.
“How can you beat your wife who you call when you go to sleep? Please tell these men to go digital. Then there are those men who leave their wives to sleep with young girls. They are analogue,” said the Minister.
Other activities she described as analogue are refusing to go for HIV testing, covering vegetable gardens with mosquito nets, marrying young girls and killing albinos.
Speaking earlier, Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) board chairperson Mervis Mangulenje said her organisation is aiming to spearhead the development of information communication technologies (ICTs) to ensure that Malawi keeps up the global pace in technology advancements.
She said Malawi has joined Mauritius, Tanzania, Namibia and Mozambique to have been recognised by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as having migrated from analogue to digital television.
