A student (centre) receives an award certificate from Chinese Ambassador to Malawi Lu Xu (left) and Malawian Minister of Information and Communications Technology Shadric Namalomba (COURTESY)

Malawi is lagging behind in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector, according to the Public Private Partnership Commission of Malawi. A lack of ICT infrastructure, unequal access to internet services, and insufficient digital skills and competencies among the workforce are among the reasons cited by the commission. 

It’s a matter of concern that Clarence Gama, president of the ICT Association of Malawi, takes seriously. He says the issue needs to be addressed in earnest, in order to move from consuming technology to creating products and services that can compete internationally. 

“Digital technology can unlock employment opportunities, foreign exchange earnings and greater competitiveness,” he said. 

ICT skills non-negotiable  

The government has also called for acceleration in ICT development so the country does not get left behind in the digital era. 

“Malawi can no longer afford to remain on the sidelines while other countries use digital technologies to transform their economies. We cannot afford to be a spectator. We must become a player in the digital industry,” said Shadric Namalomba, minister of information and communications technology, during the 2026 ICT Expo in the capital Lilongwe in early June. The expo focused on brainstorming how digitalisation can support economic transformation under Malawi Vision 2063, the country’s long-term vision of transforming into an inclusively wealthy and self-reliant upper-middle-income country. 

In the process of seeking ways to digitally upskill its people, the government has collaborated with Chinese company Huawei Technologies, launching the Huawei Malawi ICT Talent Cultivation Programme at the expo, aimed at supporting the country’s digital transformation through ICT education, innovation and skills development. 

In addition, the Malawi ICT Top 100 talent development programme, an initiative designed to identify, mentor and nurture outstanding students and innovators across the country, was launched at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences in Lilongwe. Attendees included government officials, Chinese embassy officials, academics, ICT industry stakeholders and students. 

Speaking during the talent cultivation programme launch, Jason Xu, Huawei board director for Southern Africa, said science and technology are the primary driving forces behind national development, while talent cultivation is the foundation for realising the nation’s scientific and technological capabilities. 

“We are proud that these ICT infrastructure projects are supporting Malawi’s progress in governance, finance, education and agriculture. But Huawei knows well: hardware is only the skeleton; people and skills are the soul,” said Xu, adding that the programme will help to establish a local team of Malawian lecturers who can teach these advanced tech skills. 

Lu Xu, Chinese ambassador to Malawi, said the talent cultivation programme has opened a new chapter in China-Malawi digital cooperation. 

“In the digital realm, China has already supported Malawi in building national communications infrastructure and a national data centre. China will continue sharing our experience in e-government and IT application, helping Malawi to chart a digital development path that fits its unique landscape,” said Lu. 

Namalomba was overjoyed with the ICT development path, saying the talent training programme signals the beginning of new opportunities for young Malawians to transform their talent into solutions, their ideas into innovations and their ambitions into meaningful contributions to national development. 

He disclosed that the government has earmarked digital transformation as a mission-critical enabler for national development, as reflected in the country’s development agenda and the implementation of Malawi Vision 2063.  

“Malawi Vision 2063 anchors our national future on human capital development, industrialisation, urbanisation, and agricultural productivity and commercialisation. However, let there be no doubt that digital technology is the thread that weaves these pillars together and a digitally skilled workforce translates it into reality. Digital transformation is no longer a standalone sector; it is a foundational driver of economic growth, public service delivery, innovation, productivity and competitiveness,” said Namalomba. 

From theory to hands-on 

Hendrick Gondwe, a final-year bachelor-degree student of science in electronics at the University of Malawi, said the programme is important because it gives him an opportunity to gain ICT skills that complement what he is learning in the classroom.  

As a student who participated in the Huawei ICT Competition and represented Malawi at the regional level, he has seen how these initiatives can transform students by exposing them to industry-standard technologies and global opportunities.  

“The talent development programme will help to further develop my technical skills, improve my employability and prepare me to contribute meaningfully to Malawi’s digital transformation. It goes beyond classroom learning by providing hands-on training, industry-recognised certifications, mentorship and opportunities to participate in international competitions,” said Gondwe. 

He added that through these types of initiatives, students gain practical experience with modern technologies such as cloud computing, networking and AI, skills that are directly relevant to the demands of the digital economy. 

Another student Olive Chimphepo, a fourth-year student studying ICT at Daeyang University, said this kind of training programme is important, taking into account the course she is pursuing. 

“I am focusing on how I can move from theory to real practice. This programme will give me a chance to build all the necessary ICT skills that I am going to need in the industry,” she said, adding that many young people in Malawi struggle to gain experience after school, and this initiative will help to bridge that gap. 

The current programme plans to train 500 students.