The Internet is still expensive in Malawi, although mobile phone has increased, including network companies introducing Pamtsetse and Mofaya Bundles, Tnm and Airtel packages respectively. This alone can not pull Malawi’s Internet in comparison to our beloved bordering countries Internet speed and price rates.
You will find several Internet cafes in the major cities of Malawi, Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu with WI-FI services. However this initiative has not moved the usage of Internet into both Rural and urban areas at an equal rate.
Malawi’s total population was last pegged at 19.91 million from the previous census, having 50.7 percent of Malawi’s population as female, while 49.3 remaining population is male.
At the start of 2022, 18.0 percent of Malawi’s population lived in urban centres, while 82 percent lived in rural areas.
It is recorded that most Internet users are those living in urban centres unlike the rural dwellers. Most of them spending more time on social media platforms, Facebook and WhatsApp whereas the second cohot spending their time watching Pornography on Internet.
According to MACRA this is how people have been using the internet In Malawi since February 2022
37.6% – Social Media sites (Facebook, WhatsApp, Tiktok, Instagram, Instagram .. in that order)
31.4% – Pornography websites
20% – Betting ( Premier Bet, Worldstar)
4 % – YouTube
2.1 % – Netflix, Spotify & DSTV
1.8 % – News and Educational Websites
3.1 % – Other
It must be noted that most Internet users are aged between 15 to 50years, living the remaining age group vulnerable to Internet access. Below shows Malawi population by age groups.
15.1 percent of Malawi’s population is between the ages of 0 and 4.
21.8 percent of Malawi’s population is between the ages of 5 and 12.
12.3 percent of Malawi’s population is between the ages of 13 and 17.
14.0 percent of Malawi’s population is between the ages of 18 and 24.
15.0 percent of Malawi’s population is between the ages of 25 and 34.
9.7 percent of Malawi’s population is between the ages of 35 and 44.
6.0 percent of Malawi’s population is between the ages of 45 and 54.
3.4 percent of Malawi’s population is between the ages of 55 and 64.
2.7 percent of Malawi’s population is aged 65 and above.
Therefore, the comparison of Malawi’s population to Internet indicates a lower portion having access to Internet, as most dwellers are from rural areas and do not have a vibrant Internet speed. Whereas most users are Below 50years, with a slight portion having smart phones.
People are becoming more vocal for the issue of networks needing to become much more user-friendly in Malawi. The minister of information Gospel Kazako suggested network companies must lower their Internet bundles to an affordable price rate. However, this alone will never be productive to Malawians as most of them are unemployed and idle. The more Internet goes cheap the greater laziness might double.
Infact, this is mind blowing, a heavy task to the ministry of labor and ministry of National unity to move swiftly and educate youths on how they can productively use Internet in making money and becoming reliable citizens.
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