By Staff Reporter
The Directorate of Road Traffic and Safety Services (DRTSS) has taken a significant step toward improving access to public services for Malawians living abroad by launching a pilot phase of the Mobile Malawi Traffic Information System (MalTIS) at Malawi’s Consulate in Sandton, South Africa.
The initiative is designed to bring essential road traffic services closer to Malawians in the diaspora, many of whom have long faced logistical and financial challenges when required to travel back home to process critical documentation.
DRTSS Director, Christopher Madalitso Kuyera, confirmed the development, highlighting that the mobile platform will offer a wide range of services. These include entity enrollment and maintenance, proxy management, driving licence renewals, renewal of Professional Driving Permits (PDPs), and the issuance of duplicate driving licences.
Kuyera emphasized that decentralizing these services marks a major breakthrough in public service delivery.
“Taking these services to South Africa is of great benefit to Malawians in the diaspora, because previously many were forced to travel back to Malawi to renew or replace their driver’s licence,” he said. “This initiative brings services closer to the people.”
The move is expected to particularly benefit Malawians working in South Africa’s transport and logistics sectors, where valid driving documentation is essential for employment.
Meanwhile, the Professional Drivers Union of Malawi (ProDUM) has welcomed the development, describing it as timely and progressive. ProDUM Chairperson, Major Mkandawire, commended the government for prioritizing the needs of drivers beyond the country’s borders.
However, Mkandawire urged authorities to ensure that the implementation of the service remains fair and affordable. He specifically called for the exemption of Malawian drivers abroad from paying examination fees when processing documents such as licence renewals, arguing that such requirements may be unnecessary for experienced drivers.
The rollout of MalTIS in South Africa is part of broader government efforts to modernize service delivery and leverage digital platforms to improve efficiency. If successful, authorities say the pilot could be expanded to other countries with significant Malawian populations.
The development signals a growing recognition of the economic and social contributions of Malawians in the diaspora, as government agencies increasingly tailor services to meet their needs beyond national borders.
