Malawi has proposed regulations to provide operational rules for the National Data Exchange Platform, which is currently under implementation.
The Government Data Sharing Regulation, announced by the Ministry of ICT, will govern the platform, also referred to as Boma Lathu.
Shadric Namalomba, Minister of ICT, speaking in China during a meeting with Huawei officials, noted that while Malawi had already established the National Data Centre, enacted the Data Protection Act (2024) and developed the Boma Lathu platform, government institutions continued to rely on informal methods such as email, USB drives and paper-based systems to share citizen information.
He said a binding regulation setting out exactly how data should be exchanged securely and responsibly through the platform was the “missing piece.”
“We have the infrastructure and the portal, but without clear rules of engagement, the system cannot serve its purpose,” Namalomba said.
“The regulation will turn our technical investment into a trusted, legally compliant foundation for digital government,” the minister added.
The planned regulation will entrench several operational safeguards into the National Data Exchange Platform.
All data requests will be routed securely through the National Data Centre, replacing informal transfer practices. Encryption requirements will apply to all data transfers and storage, ensuring resilience against breaches.
A common digital standard will allow different government systems to communicate seamlessly, reducing duplication and fragmentation, while approved exchanges will be governed by binding Data Sharing Agreements, with clear usage limits and full audit trails to guarantee accountability.
Alongside the World Bank-funded Digital Malawi Acceleration Project, the National Data Centre is undergoing an upgrade to an AI-ready state.
“A US$180 million ICT investment plan discussed with Huawei will further strengthen the systems powering Boma Lathu and the broader data exchange ecosystem,” Namalomba said.
He has been in China for discussions with Huawei regarding the funding.
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