Malawi: Government to track internet users

  1. Posted on Tuesday 1 September 2009 - 12:30
    FRAZER POTANI
    Image of FRAZER POTANI
    Frazer Potani, AfricaNews reporter in Lilongwe, Malawi
    Malawi government is to, through its communication wing, the Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority (Macra) soon start monitoring the operations of internet facilities where most people get unlawful materials to face the law. This is to avoid the spread of pornographic videos and pictures on the internet.
    computers
    According to the state controlled Malawi News Agency (Mana) member of Parliamentary Committee on Media and Communications, Jonas Viyazgi last week took Macra to task to explain what the authority is doing to avoid increasing publications of unlawful materials including pornographic videos and pictures on the internet.

    “There is always increasing publication of pornographic materials in the country which is posing a threat to future generation,” said Viyazgi adding,

    “Therefore to protect it there is a need for Macra to control such publications.”

    In response, Macra’s acting director general, Michael Kuntiya assured the committee that his authority is seriously working to its best to control such materials.

    “We have already involved the police in monitoring places where the malpractices are taking place,” said Kuntiya.

    Last year, a senior executive at Malawi’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM), shook the Malawian society after naked images he had posed alongside three women landed on an online Malawian newspaper including in the street for sale by vendors.

    Some weeks later, a naked image of Malawian female reporter with state controlled broadcaster Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) also found its way on the same Malawian online newspaper.

    The two developments angered then Information and Civic Education minister (now Gender, child and Community Development) Patricia Kaliati who called on the police to track the culprits saying it was not only against Malawian culture but also a crime.

    In both cases however, the suspects involved were arrested but none was successfully tried and convicted.

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