Parliamentary Committee on Media, Information, and Communications has saluted the Private Public Partnership Commission (PPPC) for successfully achieving significant milestones in the Digital Malawi Program Phase 1: Digital Foundations Project.

The PPPC is implementing the project in partnership with the Ministry of Information and Digitalization (MoID) with funding from the World Bank to revolutionize the digital landscape of Malawi’s economy, society, and government. 

Speaking on Tuesday in Lilongwe during an interface with officials from the commission, Vice Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee, Ishmael Grant, said the committee is impressed with the milestones that have been successfully accomplished by the first phase of the project.

He added that for the past six years of the project’s existence, the committee has been working closely with the PPPC to ensure the project's alignment with its transformative goals. 

“During the six years of the project, we have been working together with the commission. They have been coming to brief us on the progress of the project. We even visited some of the project’s activities,” said Grant.

He then urged the commission to ensure that the successor project achieves its intended goals. 

PPPC Chief Executive Officer, Patrick Kabambe, said the Digital Malawi Program Phase 1 has successfully accomplished significant milestones, highlighting its pivotal role in transforming the country's digital landscape.

He added: “The project is providing internet services to 530 public institutions such as schools, hospitals, and post offices across the country. Additionally, it is constructing the National Data Center in Lilongwe to consolidate government-wide systems under one roof.”

Kabambe also highlighted the support the project is giving to the Public Procurement and Disposable of Assets (PPDA) through investments in an electronic Procurement System designed to automate public procurement processes. 

The Digital Malawi Program Phase 1 is slated to conclude its operations in October 2024.