By Gabriel Mwale
Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has disclosed that at least 15 to 25 percent of internet users in Malawi, particularly children, have experienced cyber bullying and online abuse.
The situation has prompted the introduction of a toll-free helpline and strengthened reporting systems to enhance child online protection.
MACRA Board Chairperson, Chancy Gondwe, made the remarks Monday at Zomba Catholic Secondary School during commemoration of Safer Internet Day held under the theme; Together for a Better Internet.
Gondwe said Malawi cannot attain meaningful digital transformation if its cyberspace remains unsafe for children, stressing that protecting young internet users requires collective responsibility.
“We are not here to raise alarm but to raise awareness because child protection online is everyone’s responsibility,” he said, adding that digital safety should be integrated into school curricula to promote responsible internet use.
He noted that Safer Internet Day serves an important platform to raise awareness among internet users, particularly children, who are key consumers of digital services.Gondwe said MACRA has strengthened the Malawi Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) to effectively respond to cases of cyberbullying and online abuse.
He, therefore, urged young people to use digital platforms responsibly and report any form of abuse through the authority’s newly introduced toll-free line.
Patrick Musiyapo, who represented MACRA Acting Director General, said the event was deliberately held at the school as students are a tech-savvy generation and emerging digital activists who play a critical role in shaping a safer online community.
Executive Director for Youth Network and Counselling (YONECO), McBain Mkandawire, warned that children are increasingly exposed to online predators, harassment and harmful content, underscoring the need for parental guidance and monitoring.
“We should monitor how children use the internet because there are predators. Children are getting harassed and at the same time learning certain behaviours online,” he said.
Mkandawire commended MACRA for establishing an online reporting portal for abuse cases but observed that inadequate counselling services remain a major challenge.
“Counselling support services are not widely accessible making it difficult for victims of online violence to access professional help. This is why we call upon MACRA to consider capacity building for counselling support services so that when someone calls the helpline, they are referred to a qualified counsellor,” he added.
Zomba Catholic Secondary School student, Tinashe Mitengo, acknowledged that many young people encounter sexual exploitation and abuse online.
“There is a lot of sexual violence that the youth encounter online. Young people should be careful when interacting on the internet and only communicate with people they already know to avoid predators,” he said.
The commemoration brought together learners, teachers and ICT stakeholders, reinforcing calls for collective efforts to promote a safer digital environment for Malawi’s children.
