CRASA Meets in Lilongwe to Push Cross-Border Digital Integration

By Peter Magawa……..

The Communications Regulators’ Association of Southern Africa (CRASA) Annual General Meeting has opened in , bringing together ICT regulators and government officials from across the (SADC) to discuss ways of strengthening digital connectivity, cybersecurity and cross-border cooperation.

The three-day meeting was officially opened by Minister of Information and Communication Technology, , who called for stronger collaboration among African countries to advance digital transformation.

He said countries in the region stand to benefit more by working together, stressing that connectivity must extend beyond national borders.

“Connectivity should not only mean being able to communicate within your own country. True connectivity goes beyond borders. A woman in Malawi should be able to easily transact mobile money with a vendor in Zambia,” he said.

Namalomba also emphasized the need to harmonize digital and financial systems to enable seamless cross-border communication, mobile money interoperability and coordinated cybersecurity frameworks.

Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) Board Chairperson, , said Malawi has made notable progress in expanding access to digital services and promoting an inclusive digital economy.

He said government and MACRA are implementing initiatives such as expanding ICT infrastructure, supporting digital literacy and strengthening regulatory frameworks to enhance access to digital opportunities.

Meanwhile, acting CRASA Executive Secretary, , said the organisation plays a key role in supporting SADC’s regional integration by aligning ICT regulatory frameworks, including data protection, cross-border digital trade and cybersecurity coordination.