Department of Information Systems and Technology Management Services

Department of Information Systems and Technology Management Services (DISTMS) is a department under Ministry of Information and Tourism. The department  has the following functional areas:

  • education and training service delivery through the National College of Information Technology, 

  • computer network services delivery through Government Wide Area Network(GWAN) section,

  • computer application software development and maintenance services through Application Development and User technical support section,

  • record management services through Microfilming section,

  • and Desktop Publishing services though Desktop Publishing section.

The department is situated in Lilongwe, the capital city of Malawi. The department is guided by Government Policies and Legislation in the sector of ICTs. The Ministry is carrying out a number of programmes inorder to achieve its vision, mission and strategic objectives. For details on the Ministry's achievements please visit the achievements.

Vision Statement

Our vision is “ A highly electronic Malawi.”

Mission Statement

           We believe that ICT is the key to poverty reduction.

             “ To ensure that quality ICT services are provided to Malawi by developing and delivering computer systems, technical support services, ICT education training and consultancy services that support the implementation of poverty reduction programmes”

                We Are The ICT Help Desk

Objective

To promote and facilitate effective utilization of ICTs in all sectors of development in     order to improve productivity,  efficient delivery of

services and accelerate  development through use of ICTs by:-

  • developing computer software for both the government and the private sector;
  • providing Information Technology (IT) skills training;
  • providing IT consultancy services;
  • providing the latest state of art in records management;
  • ensuring that IT utilization is well coordinated; and
  • ensuring proper IT utilization

Performance Indicators

(a)    Clear Road map on  strategies for increased access and utilization of ICTs in Malawi.

(b)    ICTs widely available and used in all sectors of development and society. 

(c)    Timely and easy access to  relevant information through use of ICTs

(d)    Increased Human Resource productivity through use of ICTs. 

(e)    Efficient delivery of services to the public in all sectors through use of ICTs. 

(f)     Accelerated development by use of ICTs. 

 

DISTMS’s achievements for the period 2004/5

Through the National College of Information Technology, DISTMS has:

  • Trained 200 Civil Servants in ICT skills

  • Trained 130 persons in diploma in computer studies

  • Trained 50 persons in advanced diploma in computer studies

  • Trained 15 persons in Bachelors degree in computer studies

  • Trained 400 persons in ICT skills

  • Collected revenue amounting to K49, 000,000.00

  • Realised savings of K11, 000,000.00 from revenue

  • Improved maintenance of the training facilities (painting of premises and other general cleanliness)

Through GWAN, DISTMS has:

  • Provided Internet services to 700 GWAN Internet clients

  • Provided connectivity to PPPAI and IFMIS clients

  • Improved information security and availability on GWAN by installing a demilitarised zone with Trend anti-virus, derating GWAN environment, installing air-conditioners, and installing UPSs in the GWAN switching centres/rooms

Through Applications development, maintenance and support services, DISTMS:

  • Finalised a comprehensive user requirements study for the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey Rentals Management Information System.

  • Finalised a Borders Control Information System feasibility study for the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security

  • Continued to improve the Malawi Government Website with more emphasis on Ministry of Information and Tourism websites.

  • Partly implemented the new HRMIS with technical assistance from Globe Computer Systems, a Malawian company.

  • Maintained PPPAI.

  • Supported piloting of IFMIS

  • Maintained Government Accounts

  • Recycled computer hardware and reconstructed 6 functional system units.

Through Microfilming and Desktop Publishing Services, DISTMS has:

  • Produced Year 2005 calendars of the Department

  • Microfilmed 85,000 financial documents from the current two clients namely, Ministry of Education and Accountant General.

Through management and support services, DISTMS has:

  • Trained ICT officers. These are 3 officers in Bachelors degree in computer studies, 4 officers in advanced diploma in computer studies, 7 officers in diploma in computer studies, and 3 in Master of Computer science.

  • Trained some support staff officers both locally and foreign. These are 1 secretary, 1 Principal Accountant, 2 AHRMOs and 1 HRMO.

  • Undertook career talk and carried out interviews of Systems Analyst Programmer.

  • Promoted 12 officers to the post of Principal Systems Analyst Programmer, 14 officers to the post of Programmer, and one officer to the post of Chief Systems Analyst Programmer.

  • Improved Security (fence, lights, biometrics, and steel bars) and cleanliness of premises.

  • Accounted for financial resources for the year.

  • Honoured all utilities

Policies

The department is being guided by the Malawi Civil Service ICT Policy, Information Security Policy and Strategic Plan

 

Legislation

Malawi has neither a national ICT policy nor  ICT legislation. Where need arises, such as internet service connectivity and utilisation of voice on GWAN needs, reference is made to the Malawi communications Policy and Act.