The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has begun the year with renewed momentum, signalling a stronger push to shape the country’s digital and communications landscape.
Operating under the Communications Act of 2016, MACRA is mandated to regulate and monitor communications services across Malawi, with a clear goal: to ensure that reliable and affordable services are available to all citizens, as far as practicable. It is a wide and demanding responsibility, one that the authority acknowledges cannot be achieved in isolation.
This week, that commitment to collaboration came into sharp focus as MACRA wrapped up a series of engagements with Malawi’s growing community of digital creators. The conversations, described by participants as energising and forward-looking, centred on unlocking the untapped potential of local digital content.
Led by Bright Chiligo of Mikozi, creators shared practical insights into how creativity can be transformed into real economic opportunity. Discussions explored how digital content can generate foreign currency, create jobs, and build sustainable livelihoods, while also confronting the persistent challenge of effective monetisation in a fast-changing digital economy.
Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) is leading the digital content conversation.
Acting Director General of MACRA, Mayamiko Nkoloma, reaffirmed the regulator’s commitment to supporting local talent through targeted digital monetisation initiatives. He noted that audience behaviour is shifting rapidly, with consumption moving away from traditional media towards digital platforms.
“It’s refreshing to engage with young creatives,” Nkoloma said. “We are already engaging global partners like Meta to help unlock what is truly a treasure trove of opportunity within this industry.”
He added that, beyond economic value, the digital content sector has significant power to influence society positively. According to Nkoloma, meaningful progress will depend on active collaboration among regulators, creators, platforms, and private-sector partners.
“We need to work together deliberately if we are to influence positive change in the country,” he said.
Global technology companies such as Meta and Google are increasingly central to this vision. Their platforms provide creators with the tools and ecosystems needed to earn revenue directly from digital content, whether through advertising, subscriptions, or creator support programmes.
For MACRA, the focus is clear: building an enabling environment where regulation supports innovation, creativity translates into income, and Malawi’s digital economy can grow in a way that is inclusive, sustainable, and globally competitive.
As the year unfolds, the authority’s early engagements suggest a regulator keen not only to enforce rules, but to actively shape opportunity, alongside the creators who are redefining Malawi’s digital future.
