Government has disclosed that it is harbouring plans of reviewing the country’s Communications Act.
Information and Digitalisation Minister Moses Kumkuyu said this at the opening of the first ever Women in Cyber Conference which the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) is hosting in Lilongwe.
According to Kumkuyu lately there has been an increase in cyber related crimes hence the need to review the Act so that it imposes heavy punishment on offenders.
“Girls are being asked to send nude pictures in exchange for money and the next thing you see the pictures flooding the internet. Every day we hear stories that someone somewhere has been duped through the internet so we must put an end to this,” said Kumkuyu.
In her remarks, Malawi first lady Monica Chakwera said the Women and girls in Cyber conference will help to equip delegates with knowledge to protect themselves within the Cyber space.
“We need to rise to the occasion and promote women within the Cyber space. Women hace been victims of cyber bullying so we need to empower them so that they can safely navigate the cyber space,” she said.
According to Chakwera the conference marks the beginning of a new chapter in as far as women participation in the cyber space is concerned.
Speaking earlier, MACRA Board Chairperson Stanley Khaila expressed worry with the low number of women participation in the ICT sector.
“It’s sad that women are not well represented in the ICT sector as statistics indicate that only 30 percent of women population participate in ICT related activities. Most saddening is the fact that when they participate in the ICTY sector they face discrimination. We need to break this gap,” said Khaila.
The conference which is being held under the theme Bridging the Gender gap-breaking the glass ceiling has drawn together over 400 delegates from countries like Malawi, Kenya, Siera Leone, Ghana, Botswana and Zambia.,
