Law, Technology, and Digital Rights: MACRA’s public lecture at UNIMA

Students at the University of Malawi often interact with various specialists working in different fields through public lectures, which are regularly held on campus. On 21 March 2025, the University of Malawi hosted the Director General of the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA), Mr. Daud Suleman, who delivered a public lecture titled Open Discussion on Digital Rights: The Law, The Technology, and the Myths. The lecture covered various topics, including an exploration of the landscape of digital rights in Malawi and an analysis of the realities and myths of the digital age.

The discussion, held at the Great Hall, attracted many students pursuing various programmes, as well as staff members from the university. Speaking on behalf of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, the representative, Dr. Kondwani Munthali, expressed gratitude to the officials from MACRA for their visit. He stated that the lecture marked an important milestone in understanding the intersection of technology, law, and human rights in the digital age.

He further stated that the lecture was timely, as UNIMA proudly carries the title of the home of academic freedom. In such a space, there is a need to ensure that digital rights are upheld. He urged students to engage actively with ideas and concepts and to further discuss and debate them openly.

In his remarks, Mr. Suleman stated that stakeholders vary across different sectors, and academia is a critical stakeholder. He emphasized the importance of continuously engaging academia to stimulate the necessary defences required to shape a digital Malawi that is legal and supported by balanced regulatory frameworks. He noted that the increasing use of the internet has also opened doors to cyber threats. He further stated that as the world becomes more digitalized, laws must adapt accordingly. The goal, he emphasized, is to ensure a safe digital space, and MACRA is implementing regulatory tools to achieve this for everyone. He also mentioned the need to enhance digital literacy and cybersecurity awareness, specifically targeting the younger generation, and to increase efforts to provide students in rural areas with access to technology and gadgets so that they can acquire the necessary knowledge.

Students expressed their gratitude to Mr. Suleman for the insightful lecture. Ms. Lilian Chawinga, a fourth-year Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Cultural Studies student, stated that she found the lecture insightful as it highlighted the intersection of law, technology, and digital rights.

“I particularly appreciated the emphasis on the need for Malawi to update its existing laws, most of which were enacted in 2016 and are insufficient for addressing emerging cyber threats,” she said.

“As a Communications student taking the Media, Democracy, and Development course, I am convinced that establishing robust cybercrime and electronic evidence laws will enhance the legal framework, strengthening the enforcement capabilities of our regulatory and law enforcement bodies. This will help bring order to the digital space and ensure the effective protection of digital rights.”

The lecture was interactive, featuring a question-and-answer session where students freely asked various questions to the MACRA officials, who provided answers that offered additional insights.