The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, through the Department of E-Government, convened a workshop for Heads of ICT from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on 5 August to strengthen collaboration and accelerate digital transformation across government.
Opening the workshop, the Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Hon. Shadric Namalomba, MP, who was the guest of honour, challenged the ICT leaders to embrace greater collaboration by integrating digital systems and services across government institutions. He stressed that fragmented systems increase costs and limit efficiency, while integrated platforms maximise public value.
"We must ensure that ICT services are integrated across government to achieve value for money and make the best use of our resources," said Hon. Namalomba.
The Minister further called on public institutions to elevate ICT from being viewed merely as a support function to becoming a strategic national development priority capable of driving economic growth, improving public service delivery, and fostering innovation.
"ICT must be recognised as a national development priority that shapes the future of our country and not merely an enabler," he emphasised.
Recognising that digital transformation depends on trust, Hon. Namalomba also underscored the importance of safeguarding public information through responsible data governance.
"Integrity in data management is non-negotiable. Citizens must have confidence that government data is secure, accurate and managed responsibly," he said.
During the workshop, ICT Heads from various MDAs presented the status of ICT initiatives within their institutions, showcasing innovations that are enhancing public service delivery and improving operational efficiency. Participants also shared challenges affecting implementation including interoperability, infrastructure limitations and capacity gaps and exchanged practical solutions and lessons to address them collaboratively.
The workshop reinforced the Government of Malawi's commitment to building an integrated, secure and citizen-centred digital government.