en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Malawi government recently proposed the Government Data Sharing Regulations to establish operational rules for the ongoing National Data Exchange Platform (Boma Lathu). The regulations, announced by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, aim to address the long-standing issue of government agencies sharing citizen information through informal methods such as email, USB drives, and paper-based systems.

Malawi's Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Shadric Namalomba, stated during a meeting with Huawei officials in China that although Malawi has established a National Data Center, enacted the Data Protection Act (2024), and developed the Boma Lathu platform, binding regulations remain the "missing link." Namalomba noted that the system has infrastructure and a portal, "but without clear rules of engagement, the system cannot fulfill its purpose." He added that the regulations would transform technological investments into a trustworthy and legally compliant foundation for digital government.

The planned regulations establish multiple operational safeguards for the National Data Exchange Platform. All data requests will be securely routed through the National Data Center, replacing informal transmission methods; encryption requirements apply to all data transmission and storage; universal digital standards enable seamless communication between different government systems, reducing duplication and fragmentation; approved data exchanges are governed by binding data sharing agreements that specify usage restrictions and maintain a complete audit trail.

Supported by the World Bank-funded "Digital Malawi Acceleration Project," the National Data Center is undergoing upgrades to achieve AI-ready status. A $180 million ICT investment plan discussed by Namalomba with Huawei officials in China will further enhance the systems supporting Boma Lathu and the broader data exchange ecosystem.

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