The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has expressed satisfaction with what has been described as ‘successful’ Women and Girls in Cyber Conference which Malawi has hosted in Lilongwe from 1st to 4th August 2023.
Speaking on Friday during the closing ceremony of the conference, MACRA Director for Legal Services Thokozani Chimbe who was also Chairperson of the organizing committee of the conference was successful as key objectives were discussed.
“One of the key objectives of the conference is to raise awareness of gender gap that exists in the field of cyber and to discuss what the issues and solutions are and to find out from the women what their challenges have been” said Chimbe
Chimbe also said that the conference has helped the formulation of a Women in Cyber Malawi with the purpose of getting affliated to other women in cyber networks across the globe.
“We had a lot of presenters from other networks who encouraged us that this is the way to go and if we succeed we will get affliated to other international organizations which will create network in so many opportunities interms of mentorship, scholarship opportunities and training opportunities” she added
Chimbe further advised all women and girls in the country to realize the importance of being in the Cyber space.
Chief Internal editor in the Government of Malawi Priscilla Nyirenda who has been chosen as Central Region representative for Women and Girls in Cyber Malawi stressed importance for women not to be lagging behind in access to the Cyber space.
“There are alot of crimes that are committed on the internet and most of it affects women so as women and girls iam taking this message to everyone out there that we are here for them to help each other, to mentor, to coach, even to train those who are interested in cyber security issues and also those who have problems with anything that concern cyber” said Nyirenda
The conference attracted different prominent figures including the first lady of the Republic of Malawi Madam Monica Chakwera who opened the conference on Tuesday and also judges, honorable Members of Parliament were in attendance.
Apart from the above mentioned, the conference had over 308 delegates in attendance at BICC in Lilongwe while over 800 people from Zambia, Ghana, Botswana, Sierra Leon, United States of America, Malaysia and other countries were in attendance via online.
