Pan-African group warns Macra on K2.6bn IT deal
Pan-African Net Rights Coalition (NRC) has asked Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) to cancel procurement of a $1.5 million (about K2.6 billion) information technology (IT) equipment to avoid contravening international human rights conventions.
In its letter dated January 27 2025 addressed to Macra director general Daud Suleman, the coalition said Malawi is a party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights which guarantee the protection of freedom of expression.

The coalition has also highlighted that targeted communication surveillance is illegal and does not align with international human rights law.
Reads the letter in part: “We remind Macra of the need to engage with all relevant agencies and stakeholders such as the Malawi Electoral Commission, MCM [Media Council of Malawi] and Malawi Human Rights Commission for a more progressive approach to addressing misinformation and disinformation ahead of [September 16 General Election], without resorting to targeted mass communications surveillance.”
The group comprises Accountability Lab Nigeria, African Internet Rights Alliance, Bloggers of Zambia, Camer Today, Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR), Human Rights Journalists Network, Koneta Hub South Sudan, Knowledge House, Media Council of Malawi (MCM), West African Digital Rights Defenders Coalition and Youth and Society (YAS), among others.
CHRR executive director Michael Kaiiyatsa said given the recent spate of arrests and selective application of justice in Malawi, the potential for abuse of such technologies could be high.
When contacted yesterday, Suleman said he was yet to receive the letter, but argued that Macra is within the law.
“The platform has nothing to do with the shutdown of Internet services in Malawi, which technically is not possible. Our procurement is in line with laws,” he said.
In an earlier interview, Suleman also told The Nation that the system is not for digital surveillance of private conversations or social media regulation as it is being suggested, but is meant to help raise confidence in the digital space.
However, in the same paper, digital media expert Jimmy Kainja cast doubt that the approach taken by Macra will deal with misinformation and disinformation.
He said nowhere in the world has a country dealt with misinformation and disinformation through the use of software or particular technology, adding that dealing with misinformation needs collaborative efforts.
Macra has come under fire from human rights campaigners over the purchase of an integrated system to track misinformation and disinformation trends in Malawi when the country is facing economic challenges. Some have also expressed fear that the equipment is meant to put critics under check.