By Burnett Munthali
The Concerned Citizens of Malawi, a group operating under the People Power Movement, has strongly criticized the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) for its decision to invest $1.5 million in a social media monitoring machine. In a press release on January 15, 2025, the group condemned the expenditure as an irresponsible allocation of resources, arguing that it comes at a time when the nation is struggling with severe socio-economic challenges.
Malawi is currently enduring widespread shortages of vital resources. Hospitals are running low on essential medicines, the country’s maize reserves are depleting rapidly, and millions of citizens are facing hunger. The ongoing fuel and foreign exchange shortages, combined with the rising costs of basic goods, have left many struggling to make ends meet.
Against this grim backdrop, the decision to spend millions on a surveillance machine has sparked outrage across the country. The statement from the Concerned Citizens reads, “This is a time for saving lives, not for monitoring social media,” pointing out the government’s failure to prioritize the urgent needs of the people.
While acknowledging the dangers of misinformation, locally referred to as Mijedu, the group argues that the resources allocated to monitoring social media could be better used to address critical issues such as healthcare, food security, and supporting struggling farmers, especially those who cannot afford fertilizer under the Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP).
“The money that is being spent on this machine should be used to provide life-saving medicines in hospitals, deliver food to the hungry, and assist farmers who are in dire need of resources to grow crops,” said Cde Edwards Kambanje, one of the group’s spokespersons.
The group also raised serious concerns about the broader implications of this technology on democratic freedoms in Malawi, particularly freedom of speech and access to information. They warn that the surveillance system could be a direct threat to the democratic principles that the nation was built upon.
“Instead of ensuring the welfare of the people, the government is opting for surveillance over service, control over care. This decision undermines the very essence of our democracy,” the statement declared.
The Concerned Citizens have vowed to take action to prevent the installation of the system. They have warned that they will mobilize the public to block the Ghanaian company contracted to install the system from entering the country.
“If the government persists with this reckless decision, the people of Malawi will rise to protect their rights, their voices, and their democracy,” they affirmed.
The group’s message to the government is clear: cancel the purchase of the $1.5 million surveillance machine and instead focus on addressing the immediate needs of the citizens. They argue that leadership in times of crisis requires a focus on the welfare of the people rather than unnecessary technological investments.
This controversy represents a pivotal moment for Malawi’s leadership. The government now faces a choice: continue down the path of investing in surveillance technology, or redirect resources to address the pressing needs of its people. The outcome of this decision will have lasting implications for the nation’s democratic principles and socio-economic stability.
The Concerned Citizens’ strong stance reflects the growing frustration among the Malawian public with the government’s priorities. Whether the authorities will listen to these demands for change is yet to be seen, but for now, the voices of the citizens are becoming louder, calling for a government that puts people’s lives and dignity first, above all else.
